White Gum Valley's new infill model

LandCorp has unveiled its latest residential project, at the former Kim Beazley school site in White Gum Valley, with the development expected to become a model for future urban infill and sustainable building.

Lands Minister Terry Redman was on hand with LandCorp chief executive Frank Marra today to launch the project, which will provide homes for 150 people on a two-hectare site bordered by Stevens Street, Nannine Avenue, Hope Street and Yalgoo Avenue, opposite the Fremantle Public Golf Course.

A large focus of the development has been on water, energy and climate-sensitive design, resulting in the project being the first in Western Australia to achieve endorsement from international environmental group One Planet Living.

Those design initiatives, including solar panels, battery technology, underground water tanks, low-usage water technology and environmentally-sensitive landscaping, have the potential to save residents around $1,200 per year in power and water bills.

Mr Redman said the Fremantle area was an ideal location for the project, with its strong culture of sustainability and innovation in development.

“I’m very pleased that we’re bringing that innovation to the table through LandCorp to ensure that people can see how it can be done so that it is indeed an enjoyable place to live and be a part of,” he said.

“Those are the sorts of innovations we need to bring to the table to ensure that when we have infill developments in the future, it’s something that’s actually attractive to the marketplace.” 

Mr Redman said the White Gum Valley project was a key part of the state government’s strategy to address resistance to infill development in established suburbs.

“What we need to have is demonstration sites where people can actually see what it looks like to be a part of these,” the minister said.

“Demonstration sites like this are a very sound strategy to try and get a cultural shift in our community.

“It’s certainly the answer in demonstrating people that you can do these projects in an environmentally sustainable way, at a higher level of density that’s actually attractive to be a part of.”

Two apartment sites have been put to market, with the plots expected to be keenly sought by local development firms.

Civil works at the site are well under way, with construction of the first homes scheduled to begin before the end of the year.

Part of the project also  includes what LandCorp is calling the Gen Y Demonstration Housing Project, designed by Fremantle-based architect David Barr.

The Gen Y project comprises three one-bedroom dwellings, which will be built on a plot of just 250 square metres, and is designed to show what sort of amenity and quality of housing is available through considered design on a tight block of land.

The Gen Y apartments will be strata titled and made available for investors or owner-occupiers.

Local housing construction company Perth Builders has been appointed to build the Gen Y project, which is expected to be complete in around 12 months.

Mr Marra said LandCorp’s innovation through demonstration program was designed to showcase new ideas to be used on future projects.

He said the lower living costs would be particularly attractive not only for residents seeking to buy into the development, but also developers looking to get on board.

“We very much expect that as we unveil this project and it is researched over the next four years, others will say ‘we can do that, (LandCorp) has de-risked it enough and there are commercial benefits in doing it’," Mr Marra said.

“We think the community will really take off with that.”

Nature Play WA chief executive Griffin Longley said he expected the surrounding community to be extremely supportive of the development, because of the sustainability and also the beauty of its design.

“I think you’ll find communities around the state and around the nation will embrace this kind of development because we all recognise that we have a finite planet, and anything that will help us live in a sustainable way, people are going to endorse,” Mr Longley said.

Civil works at the White Gum Valley project are well under way.