WA Business News Article, 30-August-10, by Staff Reporters

The state government has mandated for at least 47 per cent of new residential development to occur in established urban areas under the new planning framework, Directions 2031 and Beyond, which was released today.

Directions 2031 replaces the previous Labor government’s Network City strategy.

Planning Minister John Day released the document at a Planning Institute Australia forum today.

“According to ABS figures, the Perth and Peel regions are projected to grow from 1.65 million people to more than 2.2 million by 2031, requiring 328,000 new dwellings to accommodate this growth.

“Directions 2031 is a strategic framework which will assist the State Government in the sustainable management of this growth, while allowing it to maintain the features which contribute to the quality of life enjoyed in Perth and Peel.

“Directions 2031 includes housing and employment projections and a new hierarchy of activity centres connected by new and proposed movement and public transport networks.

Mr Day said the plan sought a 50 per cent improvement on current infill residential trends and also on average residential density in new development areas.

“To ensure growth of the city can be sustained beyond 2031, Directions 2031 sets a target of 47 per cent, or 154,000 of the required 328,000 dwellings, as infill development,” he said.

The plan would be implemented through two sub-regional strategies for the central Perth metropolitan area and the outer metropolitan sub-regions of Perth and Peel, with both released today for public comment.

“The central Perth metropolitan sub-regional strategy has provisionally allocated the Directions 2031 infill housing targets across the 19 local government areas.

Mr Day said Directions 2031 was more practical and detailed than the Network City strategy.

He said network City had a somewhat unrealistic target of 60 per cent of urban growth to be achieved from infill development in the inner and middle suburbs.

AMANDA SAUNDERS, The West Australian August 25, 2010

Port Hedland has begun its transition in to a regional city with construction starting on the first major community projects, worth $56 million.

Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett said the three new projects, including a recreation centre, a “Kings Park of the North” and a youth centre, were more than just one-off projects. “These will be cornerstones of the new city and improve its liveability,” Ms Howlett said.

The social and community infrastructure projects are all in South Hedland, about 11km from the nation’s biggest port, and designed to attract families to the town.

“About two-thirds of the population is in South Hedland and that is where the council wants to see the growth in the population happen,” Ms Howlett said.

“We want families to come and live and stay . . . having pride in where you are living is a big part of this project.”

Port and South Hedland’s combined population of 19,500 is expected to jump almost 50 per cent and hit 40,000 by 2025.

The projects, a culmination of six years work by the council, are part of the State Government’s Pilbara revitalisation plan, and draw heavily on Royalties for Regions and the mining industry for funding.

Construction has started this month on the biggest, a $32.7 million multi-purpose recreation centre in South Hedland, at the Kevin Scott Oval on Hamilton Road, the main gateway to South Hedland.

The state-of-the-art indoor sport and recreation facilities will include function rooms, a fitness centre, three squash courts, an outdoor playground and childcare facilities. Work on the 4395sqm site, by Doric Construction, is due to be finished by March 2012.

Funding will come from Royalties for Regions ($11 million), BHP Billiton Iron Ore ($11 million), with Auzcorp and the council providing the $10.7 million balance.

“We (the council) are all passionate and proud of Port Hedland and we know its potential,” Ms Howlett said. “But it has been difficult to be able to convey that message and opportunity to get people to be as passionate and supportive as we are.”

Marquee Park, a $13.2 million 28,000sqm family fun park with water-play features, shaded barbecue areas, a kiosk and gardens, is expected to attract visitors from across the Pilbara. Earthcare Landscape will start construction this month, with the project expected to be completed in November next year.

“It will be a public access area like Kings Park, but of the north . . . in your Lonely Planet guide and on the tourist drive,” Ms Howlett said.

The project funders included BHP Billiton Iron Ore ($1.45 million), South Hedland New Living ($2 million), Royalties for Regions ($2.7 million), Newcrest Mining ($200,000), Lotterywest ($500,000) and the council ($6.35 million).

Town of Port Hedland acting chief executive Paul Martin said the “eye-catching” projects marked a change in mentality for the town.

“Part of the history of Port Hedland has been to build things in a short-term nature and one of the ways this phase will be different is that the designs are architecturally significant,” he said. “It is about building a city for the future.”

In the year to June 30, the value of building approvals issued by council was $241 million, compared with $10 million for 2004-05. Mr Martin put the huge increase down to a surge in interest from the private sector.

The third project, a $9.5 million redevelopment of the town’s existing 3000sqm recreational centre, is designed to create a youth services hub. The JD Hardie Youth Centre will provide a one-stop shop of health, recreation and support services for people aged 10 to 21. It will involve upgrading the existing building and adding 1200sqm of offices, meeting rooms and a youth lounge.

Due to be completed next May, it will provide a base for local government agencies, not-for-profit and allied community groups.

The project is being funded by the Royalties for Regions program ($3.15 million), BHP Billiton Iron Ore ($3.8 million), South Hedland New Living ($800,000), Newcrest ($200,000) and council ($1.55 million).

The council’s capital expenditure budget for this financial year is about $104 million.

Mr Martin said 12 per cent, or 2500 people, of the town’s population were fly-in, fly-out workers, and they were helping fund the new developments.

Pulse took a trip to Port Hedland last week to take possession of the final houses in our Demarchi project in South Hedland.  A big thanks to everyone involved in delivering this project on time and to budget.

All houses were pre-sold or leased and the new owners and tenants have begun moving in.  The estate is really taking shape with more houses nearing completion.  Pulse is pleased to have been involved in delivering quality housing to the area within a 12 month timeframe.

Pulse is looking forward to starting a further two projects in Port Hedland in the coming months, we’ll be sure to keep you updated as these projects progress.

To keep you updated on the Australian residential property market and the economy, rpdata.com has assembled its Quarterly Review for June 2010, finding big changes to be taking place in all areas.

Overall, the first half of 2010 has generally been quite positive; however RP Data are now forecasting much lower levels of property value growth during the second half of the year as the market transitions from a growth period to consolidation and from a market favouring the vendor to one where buyers have more leverage.

Click here to download a copy of the report

Pulse, in conjunction with Redink Homes, have submitted Building Approval Applications to council for our housing project in Ocean Heights Glenfield.  We plan to start construction in September and look forward to turning soil at our first Geraldton project!  We are looking forward to working with the team at Redink to deliver quality affordable housing to the area.  We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the project progresses.

View from the blocks at Glenfield:

The CEO of the Town of Port Hedland recently released an update on the Land, Housing & Community Infrastructure in the area.  Some of the key features of the report are as follows:

- TOPH estimates current population is at least 19,500 and will increase to at least 40,000 people by 2025

- 2009/10 export from the port was 178.6 mtpa and is estimated to be 400 mtpa by 2013

- Port Hedland is already the nation’s biggest port and is planning to grow by over 600% in the futre

- The majority of iron ore is in East Pilbara – close to existing rail lines to Port Hedland

- There is a current land & housing shortage

- The Town of Port Hedland is very supportive of development in the area and wants to create a regional city and not a small town

- Large investments and projects are planned to improve the local community infrastructure and amenities

Pulse has recently secured another block in South Hedland.  Designs and engineering are complete, a building licence will be submitted to council shortly with construction starting soon after.  We’re very pleased to be commencing our next project in the Pilbara and cant wait to deliver another quality home to the area.

Pulse has received planning approval for the development of 5 spacious villas at an idyllic riverside location in Bluff Point Geraldton.  The property is located within walking distance to the beach and has stunning views over the Chapman River and Moresby Ranges

The first of the 6 homes Pulse is project managing in South Hedland recently finished construction.  The boys at CWD have done a fantastic job finishing this house well ahead of schedule.  We still have 5 houses to complete which will finish progressively over the next 3 months.  The finished product is looking great.  A big thank you to Alison for taking these wonderful photographs.

Our villas in Karrinyup have now finshed construction!  All houses have sold and the new owners have started to move in.  Thanks to the boys from Tricrest for delivering such a great product in good time and to Melissa Branton from Realmark who carried out an excellent marketing campaign.  We hope to find a similar project in the near future.  Photos by Archer Imagery below: