Australind may well double

Tuesday, 12 October, 1999 - 22:00
A MAJOR development set to double the size of Australind, just north of Bunbury, is currently before the Harvey Shire.

The development on Treendale Farm forms part of the East Australind Area Plan that will include more than 2,000 lots, a school, church, retirement village and community centres.

Treendale Farm estate comprises 297 hectares and covers two farms – one owned by Perth investors. The other has been in the Coote family for thirty years.

Kevin Coote said the development would be one of the biggest privately owned projects in the South West.

“It really is the crown in the Harvey Shire,” he said.

Harvey Shire CEO Keith Leece said Treendale Farm was part of a major subdivision.

“It certainly is a major development for the area. It is something that will not be realised for about fifteen years,” he said.

Mr Leece said the area was attractive for people because of the lifestyle it offered, the natural environment and the proximity to the estuary.

“Since I’ve been here prices have skyrocketed but I think at this time you can still get good value because there’s a choice with regard to land,” he said.

“I think at this time Australind is still largely undiscovered.”

Bunbury real estate agent Ross Ranson of the Professionals said prices for a 700 square metre to 800 square metre block were worth between $45,000 and $55,000. Some blocks on the estuary were worth more than $100,000.

“Last financial year Harvey, including Australind, was one of the fastest growing shires in WA,” Mr Ranson said.

He said over the past two years Australind land prices had grown by 12 per cent per annum while Bunbury land increased 10.5 per cent per annum.

The Treendale farm has a gross subdividable area of 192 hectares.

The majority of the subdivided land, 160 hectares, will be zoned R15 resulting in 1,923 blocks.

The development also includes R5, R40 and R60 zones.

In all, 2,330 dwellings are incorporated into the plan.

The estate has more than 100 hectares set aside for shops, primary schools, a tavern, community centre, a church and industry.

The foreshore of the Brunswick and Collie Rivers will be preserved with fifty hectares allocated for the protection of the foreshore, the wetlands and open space.

Mr Coote said his family would be making the strongest efforts to keep an abundance of trees on site.

“We’re particular about protecting the environment,” he said.

Mr Leece said the Harvey Shire initially had concerns about the preservation of the foreshore and the provision for an adequate sewerage pumping station. However, these concerns had been resolved with the developer.

“Council has been working closely with the owners of the land,” he said.

He said the first thirty or forty lots in the development would probably be released within the next three years.

The subdivision had also created a need for a $4 million bridge to be built across the Collie River. This will be paid for by placing a levy on the blocks sold on the estate.