The Campus Plan, developed every 10 years, is the document that reports to State Government, through the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), on the physical development and planning issues that have an impact on the Crawley Campus.

1. Principles 
2. Recommendations

In the past, WAPC and the Department of Planning have viewed the document as the University’s planning strategy, setting out how it will expand. The approval of the WAPC is required for any development on these reserves.

The University Act

The University of Western Australia Act 1911 (the University Act) gives the Senate, as the governing authority of the University, responsibility for “…the entire control and management of the affairs and concerns of the University and may act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to it best calculated to promote the interests of the University.” (Section 13). Therefore the Senate is responsible to the public for the stewardship of the University as an institution of excellence and integrity, and for the custodianship of its future prosperity.

Subject to the University Act and the Statutes, the University Senate has the following powers in relation to the management of the University’s physical assets:

“14. The Senate shall have the control and management of all real and personal property at any time vested in or acquired by the University; and may set out roads, streets, and open spaces, and erect and maintain buildings upon and otherwise improve any land or other property as in their absolute discretion they may think fit, and may apply any trust funds of the University to any such purposes.

15. The Senate, in the name and on behalf of the University, may grant leases of any lands vested in the University for any term not exceeding twenty-one years, and, with the approval of the Governor, but not otherwise, may grant building leases for any term not exceeding ninety-nine years, and may, with the like approval, mortgage such lands.

16. The Senate, in the name and on behalf of the University, may dispose of any real or personal property acquired by gift, devise, or bequest as they may think fit, subject only to the express trusts of any deed, will, or instrument under which such property is acquired.”

In addition, the University Act outlines responsibilities for Endowments and Revenue (Section 35 to 38). Real property vested in the “The Trustees of the University Endowment” became the property of the University on the appointment of Senate: s35(2). The Endowment Fund is a trust fund and must be managed as such, pursuant to the trusts enacted in the University Act. Senate alone holds the property power.

Other legislative documents

Other key legislative documents related to the governance of the University’s interests are:

• University Colleges Act 1926 - An Act to establish and endow residential colleges within The University of Western Australia.
• University Buildings Act 1952 - An Act relating to the provision of certain buildings for The University of Western Australia and for other incidental purposes

Under the University Act, Senate has the authority to approve the layout of the campus. This includes decision-making for the acquisition, disposal, use, physical design and planning functions. These functions are delegated through the Senate on approval of the Campus Plan to:

• The Vice-Chancellor and further delegated through levels of management.
• Governance committees including:
  • The Strategic Resources Committee, whose role is to
    (b) monitor campus planning and advise Senate on major physical developments and associated policy issues
    (d) within the limits of agreed delegations, make decisions or recommendations to Senate on investments within a framework of strategy approved by the Senate
  • The Planning and Budget Committee, whose role is to:
    (a) advise and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Academic Council on the following matters:
       (i) the formulation of the University's strategic and operational plans;
       (v) the setting of priorities and the allocation of funds for major building works and any major re-allocation of space within a faculty or among faculties;
     (e) advise and submit recommendations to the Academic Council on policy matters and on major procedural matters relating to University accommodation.”

Externally, the University is subject to a wide range of decision-making bodies.  The Crawley campus is located within three local governments (Perth, Nedlands and Subiaco), as well as portions under the State Government planning (the Department of Planning and the WAPC) and further government agencies such as Main Roads, The Swan River Trust, The Heritage Council, The Department of Environment and Conservation, and The Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority (Kings Park).

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Principles

1. Ensure all campus development is in accordance with statutory and University governance requirements

Recommendations

• The University processes and decision-making of the acquisition, disposal, use, physical design and planning functions is transparent and is communicated broadly to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Continue to be involved in local government change and State planning reforms.

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