The WA Government has announced the investment of $27.24million into the Northern Planning Program (NPP) through the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Northern Towns Development fund to develop high priority strategic and statutory planning activities in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Mid-West and Gascoyne regions.


The Northern Planning Program was established in early 2010 for the Kimberley and Pilbara regions and in 2011 was extended to cover the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions.


Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said the NPP provided funding for projects that addressed the facilitation of land release for residential development.


“It will support the diversification of the local economy and local governments to undertake planning and development work within five years,” Mr Grylls said.


“Funding of this initiative is fundamental to assist regional shires to facilitate development by creating or amending local planning schemes as well as discuss and plan with communities for their future.”


Planning Minister John Day said applications for NPP funding had been collected through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process.


“We have received a considerable amount of EOIs and applicants are now submitting business cases for approval to be granted the funds allocated to this financial year,” Mr Day said.


“The previous year’s funding allocations have been issued and we are seeing great results with 47 projects, totalling $12.786million being delivered throughout the regions.”