With the new Cockburn Central precinct taking shape, the City of Cockburn has turned its attention west to Spearwood and Hamilton Hill, with plans for joint venture developments on land around the Phoenix Park Shopping Centre.
The subject area includes the 28,000 square metre Phoenix Park commercial centre and council administration buildings on six hectares of land to the south.
The council will prepare a revitalisation plan, which will outline strategies for residential, retail and commercial development, including new zoning guidelines and building scales.
The plan will also propose transport, open space and other public uses for the area.
Cockburn mayor Stephen Lee said the commercial centre was the city’s second largest precinct and needed a clearer strategic plan before any further development was undertaken.
He said the development of the plan, which could cost council up to $80,000 initially, would involve extensive community consultation.
“The new vision for the precinct will lift our suburbs’ profiles, which will have huge benefits for our residents,” Mr Lee said in a statement.
“We will also be looking at how residents of Spearwood and Hamilton Hill may get the optimum use of their land holdings.”
As part of the vision, he said, council wanted to build a new senior citizens centre and develop a mixed-use precinct of civic, residential and community on council-owned land, which would be integrated with the commercial centre.
Council is intending to seek joint venture opportunities for the project with private developers in about 12 months, once the plan is gazetted by the Western Australian Planning Commission.
At nearby Cockburn Central, work is under way on council’s first joint venture development, with Castelli Group and Z-Corp.
The development includes a new library, offices, and 80 residential apartments, and is targeting mid to late 2008 for completion.
