400- R-Codes Update ft. Minister John Carey

Host Trent Fleskens interviews WA Minister for Planning and Housing John Carey about housing supply and planning reform, focusing on R-Code changes that scrap average lot size at R20 to enable subdivisions and potentially open up 50,000 new lots over time as “gentle density.” Carey argues WA needs the full housing continuum—greenfield, infill, and medium/high density—alongside station precinct upzoning, transport-corridor increases, and simplification of the now-expanded R-Codes to reduce variations and speed approvals. They address criticism about tree canopy and future redevelopment, with Carey supporting pragmatic local planning policies and stronger justification for low-density areas while aspiring to make R30 the standard. The discussion also covers approval delays, parking minimum flexibility, infrastructure bottlenecks at Water Corp and Western Power, progress and challenges in the Housing Diversity Pipeline, and targets for delivering social and affordable housing through build-to-rent and community housing provider.