One of the nation’s busiest mining towns is in line for a shopping centre, tavern and daycare centre as its housing woes continue.
Turner River Developments filed the plans with the Town of Hedland in December and it won approval from the Regional Development Assessment Panel on March 25.
This was despite a submission from the neighbouring Spinifex Hill Studio, a gallery for First Nation artists, calling for the area to remain a dry site but otherwise supporting the plans.
Fremantle-based Cooksey Property Group director Douglas Cooksey and planner Geoff Loxten were listed as directors of the entity behind plans.
The centre would be the “first significant retail development in the Hedland locality in 40 years” and support the expansion of the WA port’s population by 22,000 in the next decade.
The developer has four years to build the commercial centre, at an estimated cost of $25 million, on Lots 2939 and 5977 Hamilton Road, South Hedland, 1617km north of Perth.
The plans designed by Hodge Collard Preston also include fast food outlets, 13 retail tenancies and a service station.
The Town of Port Hedland had entered an agreement with the developer to sell the 1.7ha site next to the South Hedland Sports Complex if planning approval was granted.
Town of Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said the development was a long time coming and would become the lifeblood of the area.
“Having a greater variety of shopping and hospitality options helps make Hedland a more attractive place to work and live,” Carter said.
“We all know access to childcare is another huge issue in Hedland, so an additional childcare facility will help address some of the challenges.
“The proposal is really exciting and we look forward to it becoming a reality in the very near future.”
Port Hedland is a hub for FIFO workers attracted to the resource-rich town for its job opportunities and high salaries.
However, finding housing was an issue for those who wanted to live in the town rather than the mining camp accommodation or dongas.
The Mayor said the council was working on a Local Housing Strategy to address this problem.
“For a long time, we’ve been saying that housing is a handbrake on the future success of Hedland,” Carter said.
“In our latest community survey, 39 per cent of people said access to housing was ‘terrible’.
“That’s just not good enough and it’s having a huge negative impact on our community, and the economic potential of Port Hedland.”
