The South West Design Review Panel (SWDRP) is a collaborative initiative between the Cities of Bunbury and Busselton and the Shires of Augusta Margaret River and Capel. The Panel provides independent, expert design advice on development proposals and projects across the South West region.
The SWDRP meets monthly to review development applications and projects referred by participating local governments, with each local government determining which proposals require design review input.
The purpose of the Panel is to provide independent, multi-disciplinary, and expert advice on the architectural and urban design quality of development proposals
The Design Review Process may apply to:
- All applications that meet the mandatory or optional requirement for Development Assessment Panels applications, where there is a design element that may impact on the character, appearance, or streetscape of an area; or
- Major development proposals where there is a design element that may have a significant impact on the character, appearance, or streetscape of an area at the discretion of the City; or
- Any other planning proposal (e.g. Scheme Amendment, Structure Plan, Precinct Plan, Local Planning Policy, Local Development Plan, Design Guidelines; or City project) relating to the design of development and places may be referred to the Design Review Panel at the discretion of the City
The City encourages proponents to engage with staff early in the process to determine if design review is required.
Please see Local Planning Policy 4.13 Design Review below for more information about design review for the City of Busselton.
Local Planning Policy 4.13 Design Review
Current Panel Members
The SWDRP comprises a diverse pool of built environment specialists from a range of disciplines including architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, planning, heritage, sustainability, transport planning, engineering, and engagement.
The following members have been appointed to the South West Design Review Panel for the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028.
- Craig Smith – Chairperson – Architecture
- Malcolm Mackay – Deputy Chairperson – Architecture / Urban Design
- Jackson Liew – Architecture
- Darcy Ryan – Architecture
- Jade Menzies – Architecture
- Kristjan Donaldson – Architecture
- Neil Tweedie – Architecture
- Sam Brown – Architecture
- Kent Lyon – Architecture / Heritage
- Marc Beattie – Heritage / Urban Construction
- Katy Svalbe – Landscape Architecture
- Mel Holland – Landscape Architecture
- Oliver Grimaldi – Sustainability
- Clara Hechei – Transport Planning / Engineering (Movement and Place Specialist)
- Paul Gatopulousz – Engineering / Infrastructure
- Gordana Nesic-Simic – Urban Design
- Yolanda Wang – Universal Design / Accessibility
Future opportunities to nominate for the SWDRP will be advertised on this page and through participating Local Governments.
Key Dates
A preliminary referral shall generally consist of the following:
- Completed application form
- Presentation (if desired), addressing the 10 Design Principles of State Planning Policy 7.0 – Design of the Built Environment
- Context/streetscape analysis which considers the site location and character and considers the desired future character of the area
- Concept/development plans
- Artist's impressions/colour perspectives of proposed development (if possible)
- Any additional information the City or applicant considers relevant
The SWDRP will be held online via Teams and will allow up to 60 minutes for each item.
A longer duration can be allowed for more complex applications. The meeting will follow this agenda:
- Pre-meeting closed discussion by Local Government Officers to Panel members
- Site history and background
- Surrounding context and proposed of approved developments
- Compliance with planning controls and relevant design criteria
- Initial Panel comments and discussion
- Proponent attendance and presentation (approximately 5-10 minutes)
- Panel questions and clarifications
- Panel comments and discussion
- Summary by chair
- Conclude discussions and proponent departs
- Post-meeting discussion between Panel members and Local Government Officers
The City will endeavour to provide meeting minutes within seven days of the meeting taking place. The minutes will be organised under the relevant design principles and include a summary of recommendations.
The City encourages proponents to come in at an early stage of the project where the design advice can be considered while the project is in formulation.
To incentivise this, no charge will be incurred by the proponent for up to three design reviews, provided at least one of those occur prior to lodgement of a development application.
Local governments that are not signatories to the SWDRP Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are charged an administration fee in addition to panel sitting fees. The current fee is $2,200 + GST per item reviewed.
Nominated members of the panel, Local Government staff and the proponent (including other consultants and landowner) attend the SWDRP meetings.
Members of the public or Elected Members are not permitted to attend.
For general enquiries regarding the South West Design Review Panel, meeting dates, and referral requirements please contact:
Rebecca Smith
Administration Officer - South West Design Review Panel
Email: SWDRP@busselton.wa.gov.au
For more detailed submission enquiries, please contact Joanna Wilson from the City of Busselton on 9781 0475 or Matt Slocomb from the Shire of Augusta Margaret River on 9780 5238.
Panel Operations - Reference Documents
Proponent Application Form
Local Government Officer - Assessment Overview Form
SWDRP Agenda
SWDRP Review & Recommendation Summary
Terms of Reference
Local Government WALGA Showcase Presentation