Published on Wednesday, 16 April 2025 at 9:33:00 AM
As we gear up for the 2025 Community Scorecard, we’re checking in on what you told us mattered most in 2023 - and how we’ve responded.
One area that came up again and again? Planning approvals. We heard your concerns loud and clear, especially around delays and confusion about the process. Some of this stems from misunderstanding what the Shire's Planning Team can do - and what sits with state or federal bodies. So, here’s a clearer look at how planning works in the Shire of Esperance, and how we’re making it easier for you.
What the Planning Team Does (and Why It Matters)
The Shire of Esperance (Shire) Planning Team helps to guide how land is used and developed across the Esperance region, following the Local Planning Scheme No. 24 (LPS24), the Local Planning Strategy (LPS) and other key policies. Under state legislation, local governments are responsible for planning their local communities by laying out conditions for land use and development. Local governments have a legislative requirement to detail these locally relevant regulations in a Local Planning Scheme and a Local Planning Strategy. With our LPS24 and LPS we aim to balance community growth with environmental care – whether it’s a new home, a business or a simple shed.
Put simply, Planning is all about the idea –what you want to build and where. We help you understand the requirements and what’s needed to get your project approved.
Why Planning Approval Is Important
Before building or making changes to a property, getting Planning Approval is essential. This helps to make sure your project meets local, state and federal rules - and contributes positively to the community.
Planning approval is usually needed if you’re:
- Building a house, patio, shed, or granny flat
- Changing how a building or land is used
- Demolishing a structure
- Doing excavation or land filling
Tip: Talk to the Shire Planning Team before you start spending money on building plans or materials. We’ll walk you through what’s needed and help you submit a strong application.
What’s Changed Recently?
“Cut out red tape and speed up process of approvals.” - 2023 MARKYT Community Scorecard Comment
Over the past two years, we’ve invested time and energy to improve how we work behind the scenes. This is far from the end of our efforts, but we’re proud of the results to date:
- We introduced a new time-saving process that allows staff to approve Planning Applications for oversized sheds (aka Oversized Outbuildings) if there are no objections. Previously, all applications needed approval at monthly Council Meetings.
- Likewise, applications for houses (aka Dwellings) now are dealt with under delegation, and do not have to wait for a Council decision.
- We removed the requirement to advertise Home Business Applications, cutting processing time by up to 5 weeks per application.
- Our Planning team has grown with the addition of an enthusiastic trainee working alongside our experienced planners.
- A valiant effort to further streamline processes saw a trial of joint Planning and Building Application forms, but this wasn't feasible due to the requirements of state Planning and Building legislation.
- State government requirements for Planning Applications can be daunting for the average community member, so staff created a range of information and checklists to guide applications for Planning Approval and Short Stay Accommodation – with more on the way.
- We've amended LPS24 to improve local development opportunities, which have been approved by Council and are now available for use by our community.
All this work has improved the average turnaround time for Planning Approvals by 25% - not bad for a team of three!
Preparing Your Application
To avoid delays, make sure your Planning Application includes:
- A fully completed Application for Development Form: Available from the Shire website.
- A Site Plan to scale: Showing the proposed location of building including distances to boundaries/buildings, any existing buildings, septics & leach drains (if applicable).
- Professionally drawn floor plans and elevations
- Details of earthworks if you are cutting or filling the land.
- Elevations: Showing natural contours, earthworks and/or cut and fill.
- ‘No objection’ statements from neighbours (if required).
Different types of development (residential, commercial, short stay) have different needs. Check out our handy Planning Approval Checklist on the Shire website.
Tips for a Smoother Application
- Do your research: Read up on local planning rules. Knowing what applies to your property will save you time and money.
- Talk to us early: We offer pre-application advice – for FREE!
- Be thorough: Missing information = delays.
- Chat with your neighbours: Getting them onboard early helps avoid issues later.
- Consider a Professional: A planner or architect can take the guesswork out of the process.
Once you have all the appropriate documentation, you can submit your application online by emailing shire@esperance.wa.gov.au or in person at the Shire office.
What Happens Next?
“Needs to be approved in a timely manner, not 3 months or more later” - 2023 MARKYT Community Scorecard comment
Once we receive your completed application, the Shire's Planning team will assess it based on our Planning Scheme, Strategies and Policies. If more information or tweaks to your application are needed, they will let you know asap.
Application processing can take up to:
- 60 days (no advertising needed): or
- 90 days (advertising needed).
If your application needs community feedback, the Shire will handle all the advertising and collation of feedback, and will keep you in the loop.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing documents: not submitting all the required documents with the application causes the most delay.
- Ignoring local planning rules: failing to research and follow local planning policies can lead to rejections or delays.
- Poor quality drawings: providing vague or hard-to-read plans can make it difficult to process your application.
- Not talking to neighbours: Not talking to your neighbours and considering their concerns can lead to objections. If needed, we can meet with the applicant and neighbour to constructively discuss the process.
- Unrealistic timelines: even a smooth application takes time.
Once the assessment is complete and includes all the relevant information, the Shire will provide an outcome for your application. Depending on the application type, the decision could be made by the Council, designated staff, or the state government Development Assessment Panel.
If your application is approved, we’ll send you the details with any conditions. You can then move ahead with your Building Permit.
If it’s refused, the Planning Team will explain why, and how you might revise and resubmit your project.
Getting Planning Approval in the Shire of Esperance follows a clear process to ensure developments are safe, well-designed, and fit with our local community. By contacting the Shire’s Planning team early and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll give your project the best chance of a smooth and successful approval.
If you have any questions or want to start your project, contact the Shire Planning Services on (08) 9071 0676 or email planning@esperance.wa.gov.au.
A final Word – Have Your Say
Planning is just one part of what the Shire does—and the Community Scorecard is your chance to tell us how we’re doing across the board.
From 5 May, a paper copy will be sent to every household, and everyone aged 14 and up can fill it in. It’s not limited to one per household, so we want to hear from everyone—homeowners, renters, tradies, business owners. The Scorecard will be available to fill out online, and you will be able to pick up extra copies at the Shire Admin building.
Let us know what’s working, what’s not, and where you’d like to see change!
Stay up to date with the latest information on the 2025 MARKYT Community Scorecard here.
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