Mandurah Common Ground development progresses

Tender documents for the Mandurah Common Ground permanent housing development have detailed plans for a six-storey residential and support services complex, four years after it was first announced. 

The Department of Communities is delivering the East Perth and Mandurah Common Ground permanent housing and in-house support services projects under its homelessness strategy.

Based off housing models adopted oversees and on the east coast, the Common Ground developments are designed to house and provide wraparound services for people who have experienced chronic homelessness, rough sleeping or who are low-income earners.

The Mandurah development, announced in 2020, has been released for tender as the 2026 completion date creeps closer.  

Construction is tipped to commence this year, as work continues on the East Perth Common Ground development on the corner of Hill and Wellington streets.

The Mandurah project tender documents outline plans for a six-storey, mixed-use residential building with 50 self-contained units, commercial tenancies, communal spaces and social support service provider offices.

The development would also include a secure landscape terrace with shared barbecue and seating areas, communal dining, lounge and kitchen spaces and office and meeting rooms for the support services.

The leasable commercial spaces would be suitable for a cafe or retail business, according to the tender.

Around-the-clock security, an open reception and single controlled entry and exit points to maximise safety have also been outlined in the tender documents.

It would be built at 85 Allnutt Street, Mandurah, an area identified as having a high number of people who are sleeping rough, according to the state government.

Construction on the $70 million East Perth Common Ground development commenced in the second half of 2023, after being slated to break ground in FY21-22.

It was initially estimated to cost $23 million for a 70-unit development before it grew to 112 units at $32 million, which was later repriced to $70 million.

In mid-2022 the project stalled while out for tender, with a new request put out which was won by ADCO Construction a year later. 

Post-COVID price escalations and the heated construction market were cited as reaons for the delays at the time. 

The East Perth project and the Mandurah development have both been designed by Gresley Abas Architects, the firm also behind the Mandurah Eastern Foreshore redevelopment.