Winds of change blowing in Lancelin

Developers are making moves in the laid-back fishing town of Lancelin in the lead up to the state government’s planned extension of the coast road between Lancelin and Cervantes, scheduled to begin next year.

Lancelin is best known as a world-class windsurfing and crayfishing destination. It is a different story, however, with regard to residential land availability, prompting developers to begin the process of re-zoning significant parcels of rural land in time for the expected influx of new residents to the region.

One private developer, who bought a 635 hectare parcel of rural land south of the town in the 1960s, has engaged planning consultants Taylor Burrell Barnett to prepare a town structure plan. The proposal aims to create a new community of up to 10,000 people by 2031.

The three-staged plan for the new town, called Lancelin South, includes a 1,000-lot first-stage release and minor retail development, followed by a further 3,000-lot release in later stages, which will include the development of a community centre, shopping centre, primary and high school.

Taylor Burrell Barnett associate Sam Williams told WA Business News the firm would submit its town plan to the Shire of Gingin within two months and if endorsed, it hoped to consult with the shire on a re-zoning plan in the next six months.

Mr Williams said his client, Lancelin Land Co, intended to keep more than 15 per cent of the subdivision as regional open space and would make the community low-key by developing around significant ridgelines along the coast.

 “We want to stress that Lancelin will not be losing its unique sleepy village character, and all development would be in keeping with the Shire of Gingin’s coastal plan,” he said.

The Gingin Coast Structure Plan was launched in March 1999 by the Western Australian Planning Commission to guide future decision-making about land use and infrastructure development between Wilbinga and Lancelin.

Shire of Gingin president George Gifford said Lancelin residents had needed more facilities and infrastructure for some time, but with a current population estimated at 600, any additional commercial development would not be viable without a significant population boost.

Development around the town had been flagged for several years but the shire and state government were conscious of developing a strategic plan for the area first, in consultation with residents, Mr Gifford said.

“Lancelin’s population has reached critical mass because the town can’t really expand beyond the sand dunes. There’s quite a lot of land down there (south of Lancelin), and the shire is supportive of a major town development,” he said.

Mr Gifford also revealed other developers were looking to capitalise on the expected increase in traffic, including a company owned by Multiplex director Tim Roberts.

He said council had been approached with an application to re-zone a total of four lots owned by Goodoil Investments Pty Ltd, along Gingin Road and Miragliotta Street.

The land reportedly fronts up to 180 metres of coastline, near the Endeavour Tavern, and occupies a combined area of 12, 546 square metres.

Proposed developments for the site include a mix of up to 31 two-storey, permanent residential and short-stay units, adjacent to a rock lobster holding and distribution building with tourist facilities.

The commercial operation is likely to be operated by another company, Bluewave Pty Ltd, jointly owned by Mr Roberts and lobster boat owner George Stavrinos.

The state government has also earmarked Lancelin for a potential small residential subdivision east of the town, but any action is believed to be up to four years away because of environmental and native title considerations.