Shire of Murray

Although our maps show the 1 in 100 year ARI flood levels, it is advisable to contact the Department of Water (107 Breakwater Pde, Mandurah, or phone 9550 4222), as they are the responsible authority.

A building envelope is the designated area where buildings may be constructed. These generally apply mainly to Special Rural zones, and are designed to reduce vegetation clearance by keeping all development in one place. Building envelopes are determined when the land is subdivided, and should be pegged on each site. Most building envelopes are 2,000m2 and in that area you may only clear 1,000m2 for your house, sheds, effluent disposal system, etc. All development, other than fencing, must be totally within the approved building envelope.

In some cases it is possible to relocate, or change the shape of the approved building envelope for environmental or other site related reasons. Planning Approval is required to do this.

A Planning approval will generally lapse if the development or use has not substantially commenced within 2 years of the date of the approval.

Substantially commenced for a house would mean slab laid and brickwork to plate height, and for a shed, frame and some cladding.

Planning approval runs with the land. For example, if a landowner was granted planning approval for a patio but didn’t build it before selling the house nine months later, the new owner can construct the patio as per the approved plans and within 2 years of the date of the Approval without having to reapply.

The minimum lot size for any new subdivision in the rural zone is 40ha, to preserve land for agriculture and horticulture uses.

A Detailed Area Plan applies to residential lots, particularly on lots less than 350m2, which varies some of the requirements of the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes) for those lots. It can also restrict the location of garages and crossovers, restrict types of fencing abutting public open space as well as setbacks.

The Residential Design Codes of Western Australia guide the density, design and site of the residential development in relation to setbacks, streetscape, open space, building height, privacy, design for climate and incidental development.

In Special Rural refer to the Special Provisions in the Planning Scheme for the setbacks specific to your Special Rural lot, but in most cases there will be an approved building envelope, within which all development must be located.

The minimum lot size for land in the Special Rural zone ranges from one to four hectares, depending on the characteristics of the particular Special Rural zone. Minimum lot sizes are set out in the Shire Town Planning Scheme, but you should check with the Shire’s Planning Services if you think you lot would qualify.

For land zoned Rural, the minimum lot size is 40ha.