Council approves $65m Karratha apartments

The City of Karratha has approved its own proposal for an apartment complex in the CBD, in a bid to increase the housing supply.

City councillors unanimously approved a $65 million apartment block on the corner of Sharpe Avenue and Welcome Road, dubbed Lot 7020 development, at its meeting last week.

Town planners Urbis prepared the application on behalf of the city, with designs by Plus Architecture.

Designs show the seven- and four-storey mixed-use development comprising 82 apartments, an office, community space and 140 undercover car parking bays.

According to the city, the transaction would be developed over about 28 months and the development would involve $65 million of city funds.

The council report said the proposal would increase housing supply in Karratha with the matter being considered of high significance for social and wellbeing issues.

"The local planning strategy projects a population increase of 2,500 people in Karratha between 2021 and 2031, with 950 new dwellings required by 2031 to accommodate this increase," it said.

"The strategy also identifies a lack of small and affordable dwellings in Karratha.

"The proposal will help to address the current housing supply shortage in the city, and will contribute to enhancing the vibrancy of the Karratha City Centre as it is located on a prominent site in the cultural and civic precinct."

According to the council report, the application was unable to be considered by the Joint Development Assessment Panel as developments by a local government were excluded.

"The City of Karratha is both the proponent of this proposal and the determining authority for this development application," the report said.

"To ensure that any perceived conflict of interest is appropriately managed, an independent planning consultant has been engaged to undertake an independent assessment of this development application."

The development would cover 7,306 square metres over two lots on Welcome Road. Both lots are vacant and cleared.

The council's approval of the development is valid for two years.

Costs for the project seemed to have risen by about $10 million as a business plan released last year estimated the project to cost $55.3 million.

The business plan also said while the city was the owner and developer but it would appoint a builder.