Water & environment · City of Wanneroo
Neerabup waste precinct carries $46.5m forecast while three Stage 1 approval matters remain
Wanneroo reported $2.36 million in committed expenditure for the project at Lot 600 Wattle Avenue, with a clearing permit under appeal and a Materials Recovery Facility application still awaiting determination.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
The City of Wanneroo has reported $2,355,034.92 in committed expenditure on the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct, while three Stage 1 approval matters remain outstanding. The project’s forecast cost is $46.5 million, although that figure remains subject to Council consideration through the City’s Long Term Financial Management Plan.
The approval matters listed in the unconfirmed minutes of the 27 October 2026 Ordinary Council meeting are a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation works approval, a clearing permit currently under appeal, and development approval for the Materials Recovery Facility. The City separately said the clearing permit had been granted and was under appeal. Of the committed expenditure, $574,482.62 was recorded as outstanding.
In a recorded response, the City said the Waste Transfer Station and Community Recycling Centre at Lot 600, Wattle Avenue, Neerabup, are public works under section 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2005. It said the facilities do not require development approval under District Planning Scheme No. 2, and that the site is reserved for Public Purposes (Special Use) under the Metropolitan Region Scheme.
The Materials Recovery Facility has a separate pathway. According to the recorded response, its development application will be determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission. The Commission, rather than the City’s chief executive officer, will decide whether the application is advertised.
The minutes also record questions and statements from residents who disputed the City’s interpretation of the Lot 600 reservation. One resident argued the land was restricted to a power-related purpose and that a scheme amendment was required. The City rejected that interpretation, saying Lot 600 is a regional reserve and that a scheme amendment is not required for the public works. The supplied minutes record the competing positions but do not provide an independent legal determination.
The City also said Stage 1 does not include waste-to-energy. Its response described waste-to-energy as a long-term possibility in the Neerabup master plan, with any future proposal requiring separate planning and environmental approvals. The City said Council had resolved to proceed with Stage 1 on 24 February 2026 and confirmed that position on 26 May 2026.
What deserves a closer look
The $46.5 million figure is conditional on Council consideration through the Long Term Financial Management Plan and is not described as an adopted final project cost.
The committed-expenditure figure applies to the NRRP; the response does not restrict that figure to Stage 1.
The source lists three Stage 1 approval matters, but separately states that the clearing permit had been granted and was under appeal.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the current status and expected timetable of the DWER works approval?
When will the clearing permit appeal be determined?
What cost components make up the $46.5 million projection, and what amount, if any, has been included in the Long Term Financial Management Plan?
When will the WAPC decide whether and how the Materials Recovery Facility application will be advertised or determined?
What happens next
Follow up the outstanding Stage 1 approval matters identified in the recorded response: the DWER works approval, clearing permit appeal and Materials Recovery Facility development approval.
According to the recorded response, the WAPC will determine the Materials Recovery Facility development application and decide whether to advertise it.
The $46.5 million projected expenditure remains subject to Council consideration of the City's Long Term Financial Management Plan for the project.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The record is labelled unconfirmed minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026.
COUNCIL MINUTES Unconfirmed Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting 6:00PM 27 October 2026 Council Chamber (Level 1), Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo wanneroo.wa.gov.au RECORDING AND ACCESS TO RECORDINGS OF COUNCIL MEETINGS POLICY 1.
Document title
Open original minutes ↗The City reported $2,355,034.92 in committed NRRP expenditure, of which $574,482.62 remained outstanding.
What is the current total committed and forecast expenditure for NRRP and what approvals or decisions remain before further funds are spent? Response by Director Assets The current committed expenditure for the NRRP is $2,355,034.92, of which $574,482.62 remains outstanding.
PQ02-10/26, question 4, response by Director Assets
Open original minutes ↗The City reported projected expenditure of $46.5 million, subject to Council consideration of its Long Term Financial Management Plan for the project, and listed three outstanding Stage 1 approval matters: a DWER works approval, a clearing permit under appeal through the OAC, and development approval for the Materials Recovery Facility.
The total projected expenditure, which is subject to Council consideration of the City's Long Term Financial Management Plan for the project is $46.5m. The remaining outstanding approvals for stage 1 of the NRRP are as follows: • DWER Works Approval. • DWER Cleating permit – currently under appeal through the OAC. • Development Approval for the Materials Recovery Facility. AS03-10/26 - Request for Tender 26044 Provision of Major Works for Girrawheen Hub Redevelopment 5.
PQ02-10/26, question 4, continuation of response by Director Assets
Open original minutes ↗The City said the Waste Transfer Station and Community Recycling Centre are public works under section 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2005, do not require development approval and are not processed under DPS2. It said Lot 600 is a regional reserve, does not require a scheme amendment, and is reserved for Public Purposes (Special Use) under the Metropolitan Region Scheme.
Response by Director Planning & Sustainability The Waste Transfer Station and Community Recycling Centre are public works under section 6 of the Planning and Development Act 2005. Waste management facilities, including waste transfer stations and recycling centres, are listed as a class of public work at item 25 of Schedule 1 to the Public Works Act 1902. Public works don't require development approval and aren't processed under District Planning Scheme No. 2 or the Delegated Authority Register. Lot 600 is a regional reserve under the Metropolitan Region Scheme, and a scheme amendment isn't required. The City consulted the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage as required by section 6(3). The Department has confirmed that Lot 600 is reserved for 'Public Purposes (Special Use)' under the Metropolitan Region Scheme, without a power precinct denotation. Talis Recommendation 9 recommended that the City engage with its planning officers on the zoning of Lot 600 and confirm the planning approach, including the use of public works for the facilities the City will own and operate.
PQ04-10/26, question 1, response by Director Planning & Sustainability
Open original minutes ↗The City said the Materials Recovery Facility development application will be determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission, which will decide whether to advertise it.
The Materials Recovery Facility development application will be determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission, and the decision on whether to advertise it rests with the Commission as the determining authority.
PQ04-10/26, question 3, continuation of response by Director Planning & Sustainability
Open original minutes ↗The City said Stage 1 does not include waste-to-energy and any future waste-to-energy proposal would require its own planning and environmental approvals under the framework applying at that time.
Response by Director Planning & Sustainability Stage 1 does not include waste to energy. Any future waste to energy proposal would require its own planning and environmental approvals, in accordance with the framework applying at that time.
PQ04-10/26, question 4, response by Director Planning & Sustainability
Open original minutes ↗The City said the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct Master Plan identifies waste-to-energy as a long-term possibility and did not commit the City to delivering it as part of Stage 1.
Council resolution AS03-12/24 endorsed the Neerabup Resource Recovery Precinct Master Plan. It did not commit the City to delivering waste to energy as part of Stage 1. The Master Plan identifies waste to energy as a long-term possibility.
PQ04-10/26, question 5, continuation of response by Director Planning & Sustainability
Open original minutes ↗The City said clearing permit CPS 11015/1 had been assessed and granted by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and was under appeal.
The Environmental Protection Authority decided not to formally assess Stage 1. Clearing permit CPS 11015/1 was assessed and granted by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and is currently under appeal, which is the appropriate forum for concerns about the permit.
PQ04-10/26, question 6, continuation of response by Director Planning & Sustainability
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This article reports from the City of Wanneroo’s unconfirmed public minutes for the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026. The reporter did not attend the meeting or independently verify events outside those records.
Key facts from the minutes
- The City reported $2,355,034.92 in committed NRRP expenditure, with $574,482.62 outstanding.
- Projected expenditure was reported as $46.5 million, subject to Council consideration of the City’s Long Term Financial Management Plan for the project.
- The City listed three outstanding Stage 1 approval matters: a DWER works approval, a clearing permit under appeal, and development approval for the Materials Recovery Facility. It separately said the clearing permit had been granted.
- The City said the Waste Transfer Station and Community Recycling Centre are public works and do not require development approval under DPS2.
- The City said Stage 1 does not include waste-to-energy and described it as a long-term possibility, with any future proposal requiring separate planning and environmental approvals.
Why it matters
- The City reported a potential $46.5 million project cost at Lot 600 Wattle Avenue, Neerabup, subject to Council consideration through its Long Term Financial Management Plan, while a works approval, a permit appeal and the Materials Recovery Facility’s planning process remain unresolved. The planning basis for the public works is also contested by residents.