This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
WESTERN Australia’s Cook Labor government has changed planning reforms to allow apartment developments of any value, in targeted locations and which include a minimum of 5% social or affordable housing, to be eligible for the state’s significant development pathway.
The changes will be in effect from 30th May.
Eligible projects must be located in inner-city and medium- to high-density areas, including areas close to train stations or in regional centres. Community housing once constructed will be required to be managed by a registered community housing provider.
The government said “further information is being developed to support the new regulations”.
“This reform complements our government’s record $4.5 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures, and aligns with the National Planning Reform Blueprint and the National Housing Accord to streamline planning, zoning, land release and other measures to boost housing supply,” said Housing Minister John Carey.
New social homes in the south-west
Meanwhile, the Cook government also announced yesterday a land release and new social homes in regional Western Australia.
Four new social homes will be delivered in the south-west Western Australian town of Denmark through the Cook government’s call for submissions for social housing initiative.
These all-electric three-bedroom, two-bathroom units will be purchased off the plan from developers, Tara and Michael Nairn, who will commence construction on the Ocean Beach Road site in early 2025.
The Cook Labor government’s call for submissions initiative invites private industry to help deliver liveable and sustainable apartment and grouped-dwelling residential developments for social housing in Perth and regional Western Australia.
Denmark, with a population of around 6,600, is located 400 kilometres south-east of Perth.
Under the call for submissions initiative, the government will look more favourably on projects that have development approval and have a builder ready to go, demonstrate value-for-money, innovation, and sustainable development initiatives.
The process is part of the government’s $4.5 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures, which has seen more than 2,700 social homes added to the state and more than 1,000 social homes currently under contract or construction throughout Western Australia.
“Our government’s message is clear – we’re doing everything we can to bolster the supply of housing throughout Western Australia – particularly across regional WA,” Carey said.
In Broome, 21 new residential lots will be delivered as part of Stage 12 in Waranyjarri Estate, Broome North.
Located approximately five kilometres north of Broome’s town centre and part of the 700-hectare master-planned Broome North, Waranyjarri Estate is set to deliver up to 4,800 new homes for 13,000 residents.
Among those will be a further four new social housing lots, and three lots will also be allocated to government regional officer housing, to ensure the availability of suitable housing for key state government workers.