The Western Australian Planning Commission is seeking public comment on a plan to rezone two Priority Agriculture lots on West Swan Road in Henley Brook so a specialised short-stay health and wellbeing centre can be built for Aboriginal people travelling from remote regions for medical treatment.
Proposed Amendment 16 to the Swan Valley Planning Scheme No. 1 would change Lot 47 (11111) and Lot 48 (10901) West Swan Road from Priority Agriculture to Special Use. The change is designed to enable the Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH) Health and Wellbeing Project, developed in partnership with the Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation.
The facility is intended as a culturally safe base for Nyiyaparli people from the Pilbara who need to come to Perth for dialysis or other treatment, together with accompanying family members. It would provide short-term accommodation specifically defined for people accessing medical care, recovery or related services, along with supporting uses such as a café, restaurant, art gallery, exhibition space, offices, community facilities and limited intensive agriculture.
FISH says the project has been co-designed with the community it will serve and aims to combine culturally appropriate accommodation with employment, training and business opportunities for Nyiyaparli people. Proponents argue the mix of health, cultural and community functions does not fit standard zones and that a tightly defined Special Use zone offers clarity while limiting wider precedent.
The Environmental Protection Authority has decided not to formally assess the amendment, but has issued advice. The site contains trees that provide habitat for threatened black cockatoos, sits in a water- and sewerage-sensitive area, has some acid sulfate soil risk, and includes land subject to Aboriginal cultural heritage registration. The EPA supports conditions requiring development to avoid or minimise vegetation clearing, manage water and soil quality, meet Aboriginal heritage obligations, and remain visually recessive from West Swan Road.
Planning tensions
The proposal sits against the strong protections in the Swan Valley Planning Act 2020 and the Swan Valley Planning Scheme, which prioritise long-term agricultural production (especially viticulture and horticulture), rural character and heritage, and limit non-rural uses that could conflict with those aims.
Rezoning Priority Agriculture land raises questions for some about cumulative pressure on the valley’s agricultural base and rural amenity, even for a specialised community purpose. Other issues likely to be raised include traffic on West Swan Road, visual impact, lighting, noise from associated hospitality uses, and the need for careful management of wastewater, drainage and any historical land contamination. Detailed design and operational matters would be addressed at the development application stage, but the zoning itself establishes the range of permitted activities.
Supporters emphasise the clear health and social need for culturally appropriate accommodation for patients and families from remote communities, the co-design process, and the potential local benefits.
Have your say
The Western Australian Planning Commission is inviting submissions until 23 November 2026. Key documents and plans are available on the consultation page.
Submissions can be made at:
https://haveyoursay.dplh.wa.gov.au/svpsamend16
Advice on preparing an effective submission is available at:
https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/how-does-planning-work/public-consultation-in-the-wa-planning-system
All submissions will be considered before the Commission makes a recommendation to the Minister for Planning.
