Developers are scrambling to take advantage of the high level of privately held waterfront property and turn the attractions of living on the coast into profit.
To succeed in this endeavour, however, most developers appreciate the need to create interactive coastal nodes, rather than just exclusive residences.
Australand State manager land, David Rowe, said he believed the most had not been made of the opportunities presented by coastal nodes in Western Australia.
He said there should be greater emphasis placed on the provision of services for those who use the beaches and foreshore areas.
Multiplex development manager Charlie Robertson said there was clearly a demand for coastal development.
“Most of the time, 90 per cent of the demand for this product comes from within five kilometres of the development,” Mr Robertson said.
“The profile is usually people whose children have left home and they have a house that is too big but they want to remain in the area that they’ve always lived in.
“There is a real need for this type of development, which is consistent with all the principles of sustainability and preventing urban sprawl through making use of existing infrastructure.”
Cedar Woods managing director Paul Sadleir said Network City picked up on the themes of limiting urban sprawl through transit-oriented development.
“The whole philosophy of utilising existing infrastructure is to increase the intensity of use, and that is no less relevant on the coast then it is on a freeway or in the CBD,” he said.
“What we are trying to deliver through the redevelopment of some of these core areas along the beachfront is increased public access and we have to get the balance right between what the existing community is used to, and introducing change.
“Life is all about change, and change does create some discomfort, but we have to recognise some of these areas are looking old and tired and are ready for redevelopment.”
