Now, the 2000 square kilometres making up the City of Swan and shires of Kalamunda and Mundaring are an unexpected epicentre for urban sprawl, with population pressure bearing down from the metropolitan area at one end and unmet infill housing targets at the other. But while the state government's North-East Sub-regional Planning Framework sets a high bar for infill residential development, there are also moves to halt the development of the big semi-rural "tree change" blocks the region is famous for. This kind of rural-residential development — blocks between one and four hectares — just puts pressure on government services and public infrastructure that is already stretched thin, according to planning experts. Goodbye tree change, hello urban infill Perth's north-east has to come up with an extra 40,000 infill dwellings in established urban areas by 2050. This will house about 88,000 extra people.

To force this change, the proposals in the North-East Sub-regional Planning Framework — part of the Perth and Peel@3.5million plan — would see rural-residential developments largely a thing of the past. The framework is a road map which lays out the urban, industrial and green footprints for the region and will guide future development. "Rural residential areas provide alternative lifestyle and housing opportunities and may also provide a transition between urban and rural areas," the document reads. "However, rural residential development is a relatively inefficient form of development, places additional demand on community and service infrastructure that is difficult to meet and can prejudice other future planning options."

These tree-change blocks would be limited to the 16,000 hectares already zoned rural-residential in the region, with no more to be approved. City of Swan councillor Andrew Kiely said market demand for these big blocks wasn't what it used to be. Government services and infrastructure — such as the accessibility of health care and public transport — was a growing consideration for prospective residents. "There seems to be a demand for inner-city living more and more," he said. "Your medical and health services are much better, your cost of petrol, there's a whole range of driving factors for individuals, it could be that you're closer to your grandchildren.

"There's a number of factors that drive people closer, it's not necessarily that the government has just decided that we don't want to push people out to those blocks." About 1.4 million people are expected to make Perth home over the next 30 years. Credit:Fairfax Media Concerns over habitat, public open space But it's not just pressure to reduce the size of the Perth's urban sprawl that has put tree-change blocks in the crosshairs. Planners are worried about growing fire risks on the outskirts of the city and the destruction of natural habitats.

"There are issues with flora and fauna, there's fire risks in rural areas that are associated with climate change," Mr Kiely said. "My personal concern is the loss of habitat for fauna, that's a concern for me as a councillor in those areas with greater intrusion into areas of natural habitat. "The sprawl, it can't go on forever, for biodiversity reasons, for loss of habitat, and it can't go on forever because of the cost of service provision and it just doesn't suit people's needs going into the future." People are also after public open space, a contentious issue in the City of Swan, after a public outcry over the development of Midland Oval.

Tempers flared so hot City of Swan mayor David Lucas was assaulted at a public meeting about the development. Safe and enjoyable public open space needs to be a serious part of the mix if the government is determined councils meet their urban infill targets, according to planners. City of Swan to carry bulk of population boom City of Swan acting chief executive Jim Coten said his local government would home 60 per cent of the infill required in the north-east. The City of Swan's New Junction precinct near Midland will deliver between 750 and 1000 new dwellings, providing homes for an estimated 2000 people. Credit:City of Swan

"While we continue to work toward meeting our infill targets, it’s important to note that there are factors out of the City’s control that continue to influence infill results," he said. "For example, the property market is a big factor in influencing infill. "While house and land prices continue to be relatively affordable in greenfield outer metropolitan areas, the market will continue to contribute to urban sprawl. "Infill is also driven by appropriate public transport infrastructure, and we are starting to see this come to fruition in the City with projects such as Northlink and Metronet, which will bring improved transport infrastructure to our Urban Growth Corridor and provide some development in the area between Ellenbrook and Midland." The City of Swan has rezoned 13,580 properties as part of a new housing strategy, which will contribute toward meeting infill targets.

"Midland Town Centre is a major strategic centre for the City of Swan and surrounds," Mr Coten said. "The New Junction project in Midland ties right in with the City’s infill requirements and aligns with Midland’s role as a strategic centre. "The 11-hectare precinct will deliver a diverse new range of housing, business and retail opportunities together with new public and community spaces that make up more than one fifth of the precinct. "Between 750 and 1000 new dwellings are set to be established, providing homes for an estimated 2000 people."

Back to the future: Railways in vogue The history of the north-east of the city was dominated by rail and, to some extent, its future will be, too. The Midland Rail Workshops, which closed in the 1990s, were a major driver of employment in the eastern suburbs. But several recent announcements have made rail relevant again for the region, with new projects on the horizon. The Morley-Ellenbrook rail link, which the government plans to start building in 2019, will lead to affordable housing development along its route.

A 220-hectare development in Brabham will provide 3000 new homes about 23 kilometres from Perth's CBD. Loading "The project will focus strongly on creating a diverse and inclusive community that will enable all groups to be an active part of their local neighbourhood," Housing Minister Peter Tinley said. "Residents will enjoy a vibrant community connected to Perth through the Whiteman Park rail station, which is planned for construction by 2022." While the rail line will be an opportunity for affordable housing development along its route, it has been driven by the growth of Ellenbrook and urban sprawl.

"Not that we would want to change that, or could change it," Mr Kiely said. "But if we see similar developments happening in the future, then it puts pressure on the state government in terms of providing infrastructure for those areas." Earlier this month the state government announced it had chosen Bellevue, near Midland, as the preferred site to assemble 246 new railcars to meet demand from the Perth's expanding rail network. Eventually the Midland line will run to a new station in Bellevue. Guildford's heritage attraction and unanswered development questions

Mr Kiely is also secretary of the Guildford Association, which wants to preserve the heritage of the settlement-era suburb, which he said would be an attraction for developers keen to build around it. But he said infill development just wouldn't work in Guildford. Loading "We trying to create distinct areas with character around Guildford, but we don't want to homogenise the whole of Perth," he said. "On the back of Guildford, to the north, south-east and -west you can put greater infill, because you have greater character that provides relief."