Three projects share in regional housing fund

A sorely-needed 226-bed workers camp in Broome will be funded to the tune of $7.7 million under a state government cash splash to alleviate crippling housing shortages in regional WA.

Broome’s Sanctuary Road workforce village was among three regional proposals to share in $11.86 million earmarked today from the $80 million infrastructure development fund.

Outgoing Shire of Broome president Desiree Male was only weeks ago not confident its business case would stack up, but today’s announcement reveals the 91-dwelling caravan park site as the flagship project under the first tranche of regional IDF funds.

Some $4 million will be funneled into a 400-dwelling development in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and $187,500 will help get five three-bed houses off the ground in Denham.

Planning Minister John Carey said the fund would help to de-constrain land and provide service connections into new sites.

“Our government is using every lever we can to bolster the supply of housing throughout Western Australia – including throughout regional WA,” he said.

“This fund is about providing more housing for workers in industries outside of mining and the resources industry, workers that are crucial to a town such as childcare, education, healthcare, hospitality and providing Government services.”

Money allocated will be used to connect water, power and sewerage to get land development-ready.

Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s commitment will go towards sewerage infrastructure for undeveloped land including a site sold to M/Group for a 400-dwelling lifestyle village.

Kalgoorlie MLA Ali Kent said the development would operate as a build-to-rent model.

“The City expects the sewerage expansion works to be completed within eight to 10 months of commencement, with the first homes to be delivered on site within 12-18 months once the project receives planning approval,” she said.

Housing shortages have been identified as the number one issue plaguing regional councils from Broome to Esperance in the past few years, and will be a topic of discussion at this week’s WA Local Government Association state conference.

Applications for the $80 million fund – split evenly for metro and regional projects – are open until September next year, with the next round closing on December 7.

The Town of Port Hedland’s workforce village proposal is among those to apply for the next round of funding.