The City of Canning and DevelopmentWA are moving ahead with a formal agreement setting out how they will work together on the long-term redevelopment of Bentley.
The City of Canning Council unanimously approved the proposed Memorandum of Understanding at its July 21 meeting, with the agreement still to be formally endorsed and executed.
The agreement covers planning, communication, delivery of public assets and the eventual return of the redevelopment area to the City’s planning framework.
The Bentley Redevelopment Area covers about 31 hectares and includes the former Brownlie Towers site.
The project is expected to deliver between 800 and 1,000 homes, including social and affordable housing, as well as community facilities and public open space.
DevelopmentWA acting chief executive Lorissa Kelly said the agreement would provide a formal framework for DevelopmentWA and the City to work together on the project.
“The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a formal framework for DevelopmentWA and the City of Canning to collaborate on the Bentley Redevelopment project, including communication, planning and implementation of the redevelopment vision and will be endorsed and executed in due course,” she said.
Ms Kelly said several lots had already been sold and construction had started on the first homes, with more land currently available for sale.
She said public open space, including a nature-positive playground, was expected to open in September, while Stage 2 of the project was due to begin in 2027.
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall said the agreement would give residents greater certainty about how the redevelopment would be managed.
“The Bentley Redevelopment Project is one of the most significant urban redevelopment projects in our City, and this agreement makes sure it is delivered as a genuine partnership,” he said.
“The Memorandum of Understanding sets out clearly how the City and DevelopmentWA will work together on the planning, delivery and future functioning of the Bentley Redevelopment Area.”
Planning authority for the redevelopment area currently sits with DevelopmentWA, but the City will continue providing its usual services.
Mr Hall said this included local laws, health services, building services and management of on-street parking.
Development applications within the redevelopment area can also be referred to the City for comment.
The agreement also sets out how roads, public open spaces and other public assets will eventually be handed over to the City.
“As the redevelopment matures, public assets such as roads and public open spaces will progressively be handed over to the City, and we will take on responsibility for their ongoing care, maintenance and management,” Mr Hall said.
He said the agreement was important to ensure assets were delivered to an appropriate standard before the City and ratepayers became responsible for them.
The City also owns two drainage sites at Pitt Street and Walpole Street and has been working with DevelopmentWA on upgrades alongside proposed public open spaces.
Parking around the Bentley Community Centre remains outside the scope of the agreement.
The City currently only enforces ACROD parking restrictions in the adjoining car park, with any broader parking arrangements still to be discussed with DevelopmentWA.
Council also approved changes to on-street parking restrictions on Nyamup Way and Hedley Street in June.
Mr Hall said the agreement would also provide a pathway for the redevelopment area to eventually return to the City’s planning framework once the project’s redevelopment objectives had been met.
