Work will commence within a few months at St Andrews, a proposed $20 billion new city about 50 kilometres north of Perth at Yanchep-Two Rocks.
Stage one of the development is expected in the middle of this year, about a year after Japan-based Tokyu Corporation, through its Perth subsidiary Yanchep Sun City, signed a $2.5 billion joint venture agreement with Australia’s Capricorn Investment Group to build the first phase of St Andrews titled Capricorn Coastal Village.
The area has a long development history, dating back to Alan Bond in the 1970s and was the central purpose for his original America’s Cup challenges.
The St Andrews project covers a land size of 6,800 hectares and when completed will be home to 150,000 people, 55,000 homes and will provide 50,000 jobs.
The City of Wanneroo granted subdivisional approval for the Capricorn Coastal Village in October 2003. Stage one comprises an aged-care facility, commercial areas and about 2,600 residential lots over about 22ha of land between Yanchep Beach Road and the Club Capricorn Resort.
The WA Planning Commission imposed conditions which required the developers to construct the entire extension of Marmion Avenue from Butler through to Yanchep-Two Rocks before any subdivisions.
The City of Wanneroo objected to this condition and said it jeopardised the developer’s offer to pre-fund the extension of Marmion Avenue because the offer relied on the WAPC approving at least 300-400 lots for immediate development, which would help to fund the extension.
After much lobbying, the WAPC approved the construction of 300 residential lots for immediate development and the approval of the Capricorn Coastal Village local structure plan on September 14, 2004.
Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly said the WAPC had no choice but to reverse its original decision.
“Someone cannot have a condition imposed on them when it is not within their power to fulfil that requirement,” he said.
“Although the St Andrews joint venture partners agreed to pre-fund the extension of Marmion Avenue, the fact is the extension must go through various private land holdings and this will require the support of all affected land owners as well as a range of separate approvals by the State Government.”
Mr Kelly said the community was eagerly awaiting the start of construction on the St Andrews project and added that it was the City of Wanneroo that immediately called on the WAPC to reverse its decision.
“We stated at the time of the WAPC’s Clayton’s approval in mid-September that the WAPC should have approved at least 300-400 lots for immediate development to allow the developer to pre-fund at least the start of the extension of Marmion Avenue,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the city and the WAPC had been liaising with Tokyu to resolve a number of construction and design issues and the majority of works for stage one would start over the winter months. He said the developer has advised that marketing of the estate will occur shortly.
ST ANDREWS
- St Andrews is a $20 billion new city about 50 kilometres north of Perth at Yanchep-Two Rocks.
- The key investor is Japan-based Tokyu Corporation, through its Perth subsidiary Yanchep Sun City.
- A $2.5 billion joint venture agreement with Australia’s Capricorn Investment Group was signed last year.
- The planned project covers a land size of 6,800 hectares and will accommodate 150,000 people in 55,000 homes.
- Stage one comprises an aged care facility, commercial areas and about 2600 residential lots.
- The area’s development history, dates back to Alan Bond in the 1970s and was linked his original America’s Cup challenges.
