The state government says it will fix a planning loophole that enabled small housing subdivisions in WA to be built without connection to telecommunications infrastructure.
The state government says it will fix a planning loophole that enabled small housing subdivisions in Western Australia to be built without connection to telecommunications infrastructure.
In a statement, the government said new policy measures to ensure appropriate internet access in future land developments had been released for public comment.
“The draft fibre Ready Telecommunications Infrastructure Position Statement will help keep communities connected by making it a condition for developers to provide telecommunications infrastructure to new lots at the subdivision stage,” it said.
“It will provide guidance on greenfield and infill subdivision and development applications of land for residential, commercial and industrial purposes.”
Mirrabooka MLA Janine Freeman raised the issue in state parliament last year after constituents in Balga were left with the burden of retrofitting internet and phone connections after building their first home.
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said the government anticipates an additional 800,000 new homes would be needed to accommodate Perth and Peel's growing population by 2050.
"Increasing infill development is key to the McGowan government's Metronet plan to build well-planned, vibrant and connected communities,” she said.
"We want to ensure the infrastructure is in place so that everyone living in these new communities can have access to reliable internet services.”
Urban Development Institute of Australia WA chief executive Tanya Steinbeck said the organisation supported of the draft policy and understood the state government’s intent to ensure that all subdivisions were providing suitable telecommunications infrastructure to greenfield and infill developments so that homes were fibre ready.
“The vast majority of developers are already providing the required telecommunication infrastructure that is being mandated under this draft policy,” she said.
“In fact, I think you would find that many developers are going further than these requirements in order to be competitive in the market and attract buyers to their projects, particularly in apartment developments where buyers are often provided with free wifi access as part of the sale.”
