The state government has used its latest cabinet meeting in Midland today to announce four deals worth $67 million to support future medical, university and residential projects in the former railway workshops area.
The state government has used its latest cabinet meeting in Midland today to announce four deals worth $67 million to support future medical, university and residential projects in the former railway workshops area.
Building company Psaros has partnered with the Housing Authority to build a five-storey, 79-unit development comprising a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at the Midland Workshops precinct.
Initial earthworks on the $25 million Woodbridge project are expected to start next year, with completion due 18 months from the turning of the first sod.
Pre-sales are expected to begin early next year.
Housing Minister Brendon Grylls confirmed the agreement with Psaros.
“This infill development is close to a range of new amenities, employment opportunities and transport links, and is a short walk from the new Midland hospital and the proposed Curtin Medical School,” Mr Grylls said.
Meanwhile, St John of God health Care has purchased a 3-hectare parcel of land at the Workshops precinct for $10.6 million, on which it plans to build a new private hospital.
Health Minister John Day said the land purchase would allow for future expansion of hospital services in Midland, in line with increasing demand.
"Midland continues to experience strong population growth and the need for quality health services close to home will continue to increase over the next 10-15 years," he said.
"The state government formed a public private partnership agreement with St John of God Health Care to build and operate the public hospital, to ensure the future health needs of the community could be adequately accommodated.
"When the need arises, the government has the option to buy back the existing private beds located at Midland.”
Also at the precinct, Premier Colin Barnett has announced a project development agreement has been secured with Curtin University to bring tertiary education to the eastern suburbs for the first time.
The state government has provided Curtin with $22 million and reserved land near the new St John of God Midland Public Hospital in the Workshops precinct for the construction of the university’s medical campus.
Construction of the campus is expected to start next year and be completed by 2019, with full capacity to be reached by 2022.
Mr Barnett said the new campus would house medical, nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, engineering and business students.
“Curtin's Midland Campus will cement Midland's status as a knowledge and health precinct, helping to attract new investment, and provide much needed tertiary options for the east metropolitan region," he said.
"A deliberate strategy to invest in education and health facilities in Midland is creating unprecedented employment, education and healthcare opportunities for local residents."
Planning Minister Donna Faragher said the master plan for Midland aimed to reposition the Workshops precinct as a medical and education hub.
"Together with the St John of God Midland Public Hospital, GP Super Clinic, PlusLife bone and tissue bank, a new cancer treatment centre and a future private hospital, Curtin will bring some of the state's leading medical experts to Midland to support the health and education needs of the local community and wider region," she said.
Mrs Faragher also said the state government was seeking expressions of interest from developers and investors to help address gaps in the housing market in Midland.
"We are looking for operators who share our vision for transforming Midland into a thriving city centre, featuring world-class education and health facilities to service Perth's eastern metropolitan region, Perth's Hills communities and the regional towns beyond," she said.
The government’s master plan for the redevelopment of Midland was announced in May last year by Mr Day, who served as planning minister at the time.
It also includes a relocated train station and bus transit station, and a redevelopment of the Midland Oval precinct.
