The Locality Plan aims to:

• Balance conservation with recreation opportunities
• Plan for climate change impacts, including increased flooding
• Protect the river's role as Perth's major east-west biodiversity corridor
• Work with natural river processes, rather than against them
• Create a framework where healthy rivers support healthy communities
• Guide collaborative decision-making between multiple land managers of the foreshore areas

The Windan-Guildford stretch of the Derbal Yirragan (Swan River) is managed by multiple organisations across five local governments, each with their own unique set of priorities and approaches. The Locality Plan will provide a coordinated framework to guide consistent decision-making about this connected river system.

Recent climate events have highlighted the need for planning that works with natural river processes, rather than against them. The plan will help prepare for increasing frequency of flood events, changing rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures, while maintaining the community and environmental values that make this area special.

The plan covers the Derbal Yirragan (Swan River) and foreshore areas between Windan Bridge (near the Perth CBD) and Guildford that fall within the Swan Canning development control area. This includes foreshore areas managed by the City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, City of Swan, City of Vincent and Town of Bassendean, and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions-managed reserves and river areas.

You can view the development control area boundary on the interactive map on the main project page.

The Town of Victoria Park (ToVP) has land under its management upstream of Windan Bridge, including the Belmont Park Racecourse redevelopment area. However, significant planning for the land located within the ToVP has already been undertaken and can be located here.

The Locality Plan is being prepared by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in partnership with five local governments. Community engagement will be delivered collaboratively across all partner organisations. Engagement with the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation is being undertaken in a separate process.

The Windan-Guildford River area is managed by multiple organisations, including:

• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
• Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
• City of Bayswater
• City of Belmont
• City of Swan
• City of Vincent
• Swan River Trust
• Town of Bassendean
• Town of Victoria Park (excluded from Locality Plan, refer to FAQ above)
• Water Corporation (drainage and sewerage infrastructure)
• Some private landowners

Working closely with Whadjuk Noongar Traditional Owners is fundamental to this process. The Derbal Yirragan holds deep cultural significance, and recognising and protecting Aboriginal culture and heritage enriches the experience for all visitors while honouring the Traditional Custodians of this land. The plan will incorporate culture, knowledge and heritage considerations throughout, and Traditional Owners will be engaged as key partners in the planning process.

The first phase of community consultation will occur through October to November 2025. Multiple opportunities are available to participate, including:

• An online survey and interactive mapping
• Community drop-in sessions
• Stakeholder meetings for organisations and groups.

A public comment period will also be undertaken once the draft plan is prepared, scheduled for early-mid 2026.

The Locality Plan will be supported by the Windan-Guildford Action Plan, which is a rolling five-year action plan that identifies a list of actions that project partners will aim to implement to achieve the vision and objectives of the Locality Plan. The Action Plan will be updated as new actions arise.

Once approved, the Locality Plan and Action Plan will guide decision-making about the area over the coming decades. Implementation will be ongoing and will depend on funding availability, partnership agreements, and priorities identified through the consultation process. Some recommendations might be implemented quickly, while others might require longer-term planning and investment.

The Locality Plan will guide how foreshore areas can be enhanced and protected.

The plan aims to maintain and enhance community access to the river, while ensuring this access is sustainable for the environment. Any recommendations will be developed through consultation with the community and will balance recreational needs with environmental protection.

The plan will consider how to work with natural river processes, while adapting to climate change. This includes understanding flood patterns, adapting community infrastructure, and maintaining river health. Rather than fighting against natural flooding cycles, the plan will identify ways to work with these processes, while ensuring community safety and access.

The Swan Canning Riverpark foreshore risk identification and mapping project, will inform the Locality Plan and Action Plan at a future stage. This risk mapping will illustrate anticipated foreshore hazards in the Riverpark over a 100-year planning period. The data will ensure foreshore land managers have a consistent understanding of erosion and inundation risk that can be applied across various tenure in the Riverpark to inform risk-based adaptative management practices for climate resilience.

The river foreshore serves as Perth's major east-west biodiversity corridor and is home to incredible wildlife that depends on continuous vegetation corridors for survival. The Locality Plan aims to balance community access with habitat protection. This means not all areas of the river will be activated for public use - some sections may have limited public access to allow native animals like quenda (bandicoots), rakali (native water rats), and nesting birds to thrive undisturbed.

The plan will consider how habitat creation and revegetation can complement opportunities for connection and enjoyment of the river. Natural river edges, rather than concrete walls, create better habitat for wildlife while also providing natural erosion control and beautiful spaces for the community.

The plan aims to enhance recreational opportunities, while ensuring they are sustainable for the river environment. Popular activities like walking, cycling, dog exercise, picnicking, and water access will continue to be important considerations in the planning process.

The consultation process is specifically seeking community input about how these activities can be maintained and improved as part of a healthy river system.

The Locality Plan will provide the overarching framework and vision for public foreshore areas along this stretch of river to guide future activities. Site-specific planning has and will continue to occur to provide a greater level of detailed planning. This includes the preparation of documents such as masterplans, management plans and landscape plans that might provide recommendations on matters such as foreshore treatments, revegetation, path networks, and infrastructure.

Where existing plans have been prepared, these will continue to be used to manage any changes or activities in those areas. Existing projects in the locality are shown on information markers on the map. This includes the actions that have been taken towards achieving those plans.

The Swan River Trust has prepared the draft River Protection Strategy for Derbal Yirragan Djarlgarro (Swan Canning river system) (RPS), which provides strategic direction and guidance to stakeholders for the protection and management of the Swan Canning river system, including the Windan-Guildford stretch of the Derbal Yirragan (Swan River). All river management, including locality planning, should align with the strategic directions of the RPS.

Projects that fall outside the development control area boundary will not be impacted by this project.