Request to Close Pedestrian Accessways

Pedestrian accessways (PAW) provide access to essential services and provide pedestrian and cycle access both within neighbourhoods and to local and district facilities including public transport, schools, shops, parks and community facilities. Requests to close a PAW, including on the grounds of security and amenity, needs to be balanced with maintaining appropriate resident access to facilities.

Process and Procedure

PAWs, just like roads, are owned by the State Government and require the approval of the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) to be closed. The land comprising the PAW must be purchased and amalgamated into adjoining landholdings. Before the DPLH will consider closure of a PAW, the support of the local government is required. The closure process can be lengthy and may take upwards of 12 months to obtain a decision from DPLH.

The PAW closure process is summarised as follows:

1. A request for the closure of a PAW and associated fee (non-refundable) is submitted to the City of Joondalup.
   

   1.	A request for the closure of a PAW and associated fee (non-refundable) is submitted to the City of Joondalup. The request must include written agreement between adjoining landowners/applicants to contribute to all future costs involved or the application cannot proceed.
   2.	The City requests comment from service authorities (e.g., Water Corporation) regarding the PAW closure. If the service authorities require infrastructure to be modified or relocated (e.g., drainage, sewer or electrical cables), the applicant/adjoining landowners will be advised of the associated costs.
   3.	A formal evaluation of the application is conducted. The evaluation is composed of three parts: Urban design assessment Nuisance impact assessment Community impact assessment Please refer to this policy for more information. As part of the assessment, the proposed closure is advertised for public comment by the City of Joondalup. This is done via two signs on site (one at each end of the PAW) and a letter to surrounding residents. At this point the applicant will be advised of advertising costs and payment will be required.
   4.	The City reports the results of the assessment to a Council meeting for consideration. Council will then resolve to either support or not support the PAW closure. If Council resolves not to support the PAW closure, the application cannot proceed, and the applicant is notified of the decision.
   5.	If Council supports the closure, adjoining landowners are advised and the matter is referred to the DPLH for final determination.
   6.	Where DPLH supports the closure, a land valuation is obtained from the Valuer General’s Office and the landowners are advised of the purchase price and all associated costs.
   7.	The landowners purchase the land and the land is amalgamated into their property.

Please note that the City of Joondalup is only involved in the first assessment of the proposed PAW closure and public consultation. All other procedures are the responsibility of State Government agencies.

Potential Costs

The closure of a PAW can require several costs to be paid at various stages of the process. The types of costs that can be expected include:

• Application fee – $2,151.00 (GST incl) payable to the City of Joondalup.
• Advertising costs associated with the application (to be advised, payable to the City of Joondalup).
• Relocation of services/infrastructure within the PAW (to be advised, payable to the relevant service authority).
• Purchase of the PAW land (to be advised)
• Engagement of a Licensed Land Surveyor to prepare subdivision/amalgamation plan.
• Other minor unforeseen costs.

All the costs involved may be shared equally between the landowners directly involved or one landowner may agree to pay all these costs. However, without some commitment regarding payment of all future costs an application for PAW closure will not be considered.

A fact sheet with additional information is provided below.