Western Australia's Planning Minister has issued a stark ultimatum to Perth residents: embrace higher density living or watch the next generation get priced out of the city entirely.
Amber-Jade Sanderson delivered her blunt assessment during a recent Property Council of Australia event, making it clear that Perth's traditional suburban sprawl model is no longer sustainable for a growing city.
The Urban Consolidation Imperative
The minister emphasized that Western Australia faces a critical juncture in its urban development strategy. With Perth's population projected to swell significantly in coming decades, the government's ambitious infill targets are non-negotiable.
The state government aims for 47 percent of all new housing to be built within existing urban areas, a dramatic shift from previous development patterns that favored endless suburban expansion.
Sanderson didn't mince words about the consequences of resistance to density, stating that failure to adapt would have severe intergenerational impacts. Young people and future residents would find themselves permanently locked out of the Perth property market if the city continues its low-density trajectory.
Confronting the Infrastructure Challenge
The minister addressed one of the most common objections to density - infrastructure strain - by turning the argument on its head. She pointed out that sprawling suburban development creates far greater infrastructure costs that ultimately burden taxpayers.
"The infrastructure burden of greenfields development is enormous," Sanderson explained, highlighting how concentrated development actually makes more efficient use of existing infrastructure networks including transport, water, and utilities.
Her comments come as many local councils and community groups continue to resist medium-density proposals in established suburbs. The minister acknowledged this tension but insisted that change is inevitable for Perth to remain livable and affordable.
A Broader Housing Strategy
Sanderson's warnings form part of the Cook government's comprehensive approach to Western Australia's housing crisis. The density push complements other initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply across the spectrum.
The government's position reflects growing recognition that Australian cities can no longer expand outward indefinitely. Physical constraints, environmental concerns, and infrastructure economics all point toward the necessity of urban consolidation.
As Perth stands at this urban planning crossroads, the minister's message serves as both warning and invitation - embrace thoughtful density now or face the social and economic consequences of exclusion later.
The success of this urban transformation will depend not just on government policy but on community acceptance of a different vision for what constitutes the Australian dream of home ownership.
