After 54 years the former South Metropolitan/Challenger TAFE facility in Beaconsfield is set to be demolished to breathe new life into the area.
The campus was used for many decades as a training ground for a range of trades and careers, particularly building and construction, carpentry, business and hospitality.
The campus has been vacant and unused for around four years, with its training and educational programs moved to other locations in 2017.
The demolition is taking place to make way for a new mixed-use development.
While detailed engagement, planning and design of the 3.8 hectare site is still to be completed, it is expected the new development will include a range of affordable housing options, as well as community facilities, public open spaces and commercial premises such as restaurants and cafes.
It’s the latest project being progressed by the McGowan Government to help build a pipeline of affordable housing projects across the state.
In February the Government announced the Housing Diversity Pipeline (HDP), which included the release of 12 high-value government land holdings to encourage greater diversity and more affordable housing options.
The HDP locations include:
- Albany Highway, Kelmscott
- Merrifield Avenue, Kelmscott
- Zebina Street, East Perth
- Cecil Avenue, Cannington
- Future High Wycombe Station Precinct, High Wycombe
- Thomas Street, West Perth
- Gwenyfred Road, Kensington
- Brearley Avenue, Redcliffe
- East Street, East Fremantle
- Smith Street (Stirling Towers), Highgate
- Brown Street, Busselton
- GreenView Estate, Kalgoorlie
In a recent registration of interest process for the HDP, the Government received 60 submissions from prospective proponents, highlighting the strong interest within the sector for the delivery of affordable housing.
In addition to the release of lands, the Government is also investing $2.1 billion to deliver 3300 new social homes across the state.
Demolition works at the TAFE are expected to take several months to complete, at which time detailed planning and engagement on the future development of the site will commence.
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Drone footage of the TAFE campus can be accessed here
As stated by Housing and Lands Minister John Carey:
“For many years the Challenger TAFE in Beaconsfield played a critical role as a training ground for our workforce, including building and construction, carpentry, business and hospitality.
“This is the end of an era for the TAFE campus in Beaconsfield, but the time is right to see this location redeveloped, to help breathe new life into Beaconsfield.
“As the Housing and Lands Minister, I have a focus on unlocking available Government land to boost our supply of new housing, and while detailed planning about the future redevelopment are still to be carried out, I expect to see affordable housing in the mix.
“Right across Perth and in regional WA, we are releasing high value Government land holdings to build a pipeline of projects that will increase our State’s housing diversity, and boost affordable housing options in the future.”
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
“The former Challenger TAFE site is making way for a more vibrant Beaconsfield with the potential for public open spaces, community facilities and residential housing.
“I am looking forward to seeing what the future redevelopment will bring to Beaconsfield and how it will support the growing local community.”
