Ecologically sustainable development in Western Australian planning cases

This article discusses the application of sustainability, or ecologically sustainable development principles, in recent Western Australian planning cases. The article begins by referring to important parallel developments in Western Australia during the first half-decade of the new century, namely strategic and statutory planning for sustainability and the establishment of a new and cohesive administrative review jurisdiction incorporating planning cases. The article then reviews five leading Western Australian planning decisions made during 2007 and 2008 which have considered various aspects of sustainability. Finally, the article discusses implications from these cases. The implications include an appreciation of the profound change in urban and regional planning brought about by sustainability principles, the challenge of balancing sustainability considerations with amenity considerations, and the notion of sustainability as a double-edged sword that supports the approval of development.