At a state government level, the MRS (metropolitan regional scheme) gets updated by way of studies being conducted on land pockets throughout the metropolitan area. Areas can be designated as Planning Investigation Areas (PIA’s). This is a forward looking way to discern what MAY (not guaranteed) be rezoned from recreation to urban land use, industrial to residential, etc. Google PIA and have a look yourself.

At local government level, the local planning scheme (LPS) is usually updated about every 10-12 years. This is the time needed for land use and demography studies, rounds of public construction, external agency referral and input, and WAPC approval. Drafts of this document are usually advertised though the local government website and will always be put in the local government newsletter/bulletin. Hot tip; subscribe to the news list of every LGA. You will then see where there are usage and zoning changes planned, and for residential land, where there will be density maintained at same Rcode, increased, and also, regressed (yes, they can decrease density too).

Preceding a Local Planning Scheme update, the local government will always have to update their overarching strategic planning document, called the Local Planning Strategy (yes, also acronym LPS). This is where you will get the earliest glimpse or guess into where density will possibly increase, or regress. For example, the town of Bassendean’s’ last local planning strategy update informed us ahead of time about major intent for density increase around train stations, but also the removal of most of the R20/40 from outlying fringes in the suburbs. Land banking is not a safe bet- it requires constant monitoring!