The South West Development 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. Design review meetings are conducted via teleconference, enabling participation from across the region.
Please see Local Planning Policy 4.13 Design Review below for more information about design review for the City of Busselton.
The SWDRP is currently chaired by Craig Smith, with Malcolm Mackay as Deputy Chair. Both bring extensive experience in design review across multiple local government and State areas.
For each item, the Chair and Deputy Chair form the core of the panel, with the relevant local government selecting additional members from a broader pool of experts.
This panel pool includes professionals in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, heritage, sustainability and transport planning, and engineering.
Current Members (2-year tenure July 2026 – July 2028)
- Craig Smith – Panel Chair – Architecture
- Malcolm Mackay – Deputy Panel Chair – 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.
Each of the Local Government areas determines the types of applications that require design input.
The City of Busselton will present your application to the Design Review Panel for consideration at pre-lodgement or lodgement stage, where it meets the following thresholds as outlined in Local Planning Policy 1.4 Design Review:
(i) 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
(ii) 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
(iii) 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.
A preliminary referral shall generally consist of the following:
- Completed application form
- 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)
- Assessment against SPP 7.0 Design Principles
- Any additional information the City or applicant considers relevant
For the meeting, the proponent can prepare a short presentation for the South West Joint Design Review Panel
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.
The SWDRP, 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.
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 discussion (10 mins)
- Pre-review panel discussion and Local Government presentation
- Design review (30 mins)
- Welcome and introductions with proponent
- Proponent presentation
- Panel questions and clarifications
- Panel discussion
- Summary by chair
- Post meeting discussion (5-10 mins)
Panel Operations - Reference Documents
Proponent Application Form
Local Government Officer - Assessment Overview Form
SWDRP Agenda
SWDRP Review & Recommendation Summary
Local Government WALGA Showcase Presentation