Exmouth villas fill as last marina lot looms

Residents of a new multi-dwelling development in Exmouth have moved in as development of the final superlot at the tourist town’s marina looms.

The Cooyou Close project on the Exmouth marina saw 24 dwellings built to house staff of aviation company PHI, which last year won a two-year contract to fly personnel to Woodside’s Scarborough project.

Celsius Property Group and Fowler Group were engaged to oversee the project, with local builder DLR Building undertaking the work.

Some 13 Plus Architecture-designed units were finished ahead of the solar eclipse in April, with the final 11 being completed this month.

Celsius Land managing director Brenton Downing said the project was built with an eye to the future if PHI were to leave the premises.

“It was important to get this project to stack up that it was backed by a group like PHI aviation from a rental point of view,” he said.

“During the actual design phase we were dealing with a local builder in town to make sure we were designing something that was efficient and that was going to stack up following the lease to PHI.

“We didn't want to over build, we've got a mixture of one and two bedroom villas there because they're not too big and they are not as expensive as building family homes.”

Completion of Cooyou Close comes as community consultation ramps up for superlot D at the southwestern edge of the marina bound by Murat Road and Market Street.

The 17.8-hectare site is zoned for tourism, residential and marina development, opening up a range of opportunities for land use.

A community drop-in session was held on September 16 for residents to provide input into the development.

The marina was one of several North West developments dubbed a “new Broome” in the early 2000s but progress stalled by 2009, which at the time was attributed to the global financial crisis.

In its first three years on the market only 11 houses were built, according to a 2009 news report, and a developer which once held 60 blocks went into receivership.

Today, about 17 years since blocks first hit the market, the marina counts about 200 homes and is about half-full.

The marina is also home to Mantarays Ningaloo Beach Resort which has long harboured ambitions to expand.

Developer interest was sought by DevelopmentWA in 2021 for the final superlot.

The state government last year revealed a masterplan to turn the marina’s underdeveloped boat harbour into a social hub.

The Department of Transport-led development could include a hotel, brewery, retail and tourism spaces.

DevelopmentWA has one more land release – the 45-lot Nimitz Estate – prepared near Exmouth’s town centre.

The lack of residential and tourism accommodation has led to regular flashpoints in town over people free camping on beaches, public areas and in bushland in recent years.

In 2021 the Forrest family’s Fiveight revealed plans for a 36-room short stay apartment in the town centre.