- Cook Labor Government getting on with building homes and unlocking land
- $16 million for 20 housing developments through Infrastructure Development Fund, supporting 1,560 new dwellings across Perth
- $348,229 to deliver 19 dwellings for key worker and community housing in Albany and Kalbarri
- Funding of more than $423,000 for a youth crisis and transitional accommodation project in Midland
- Proposal to unlock land for 4,000 new homes in Perth’s north-eastern suburbs
The Cook Labor Government is delivering on its Housing Plan, today announcing support for more than 5,500 new dwellings through two programs to boost housing supply in the short term and for Western Australia’s future.
Up to $16.37 million has been allocated through Stream 1 and 2 of the Infrastructure Development Fund to support construction of 1,560 dwellings across 20 new development projects in suburbs like Kenwick, High Wycombe, Fremantle, Bentley and Wellard. Up to $423,574 will fund electrical infrastructure to support delivery of a youth crisis and transitional accommodation project in Midland.
The fund provides assistance to industry for the upfront costs of connecting to essential water, wastewater, and electricity services.
The $16.37 million investment brings the total number of supported apartment and infill projects to 100, which will assist industry to deliver more than 6,900 dwellings across metropolitan Perth.
A key worker housing project in Kalbarri and community housing project in Albany will share $348,229 through Stream 3 of the fund, to provide essential infrastructure for 19 new dwellings.
It comes as a local consortium has been invited to further explore unlocking land for up to 4,000 new homes in Perth’s growing north-eastern corridor, further supporting the Cook Labor Government’s record $4.5 billion in housing and homelessness measures.
Under the Market-led Proposals (MLP) pathway, a consortium with Heidelberg Materials and Hesperia is proposing to optimise resource extraction from Heidelberg Materials’ current mining lease, located west of the Ellenbrook town centre.
This would allow for an early staged surrender of the mining tenure and facilitate delivery of lots for up to 4,000 homes.
The proposal also includes restoration of degraded land in the former Gnangara Pines plantation to Banksia Woodland, which will be explored further in the next stage of the MLP process.
The Heidelberg Materials Consortium proposal has progressed to Stage 2 of the MLP process on an exclusive basis, which includes due diligence, developing a business case, negotiating terms and making a final offer for Government consideration.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“Through programs like the Infrastructure Development Fund, we’re fast-tracking new homes when they’re needed most – and we’re looking to the future, unlocking land to make sure we can meet the needs of our growing State.
“We know there are pressures out there in the housing market, but our policies are working, and we’re getting more homes built.
“Only my WA Labor Government has a serious and credible plan to get more houses build.”
As stated by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti:
“We know housing supply remains a critical issue both in the immediate term and for the future.
“This new investment along with further exploration of the MLP will ensure we continue to prioritise strategic and innovative ways to unlock more residential land.
“By supporting industry to connect to critical water and power infrastructure through the Infrastructure Development Fund, we can unlock land in high-priority areas to deliver more homes and support a sustainable pipeline of housing for the future.
“Of course, there’s also huge demand for housing in our north-east corridor, particularly near the new METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line, so it makes sense to pursue the MLP proposal given its potential to create up to 4,000 homes.”
As stated by Planning Minister John Carey:
“The Cook Labor Government is getting on with delivering a record $4.5 billion investment in housing and homelessness measures to boost critical housing supply across Western Australia.
“Our $80 million Infrastructure Development Fund provides funding assistance to address upfront costs associated with connecting essential water, electricity, and sewerage infrastructure, which have constrained development and impacted the viability of housing projects.
“The latest round of the Infrastructure Development Fund is providing funding to assist 1,560 dwellings across 20 developments across the Perth metropolitan area. The fund will also support essential infrastructure for new worker accommodation in Kalbarri and community housing in Albany.
“In total, across the Perth metro area, our $80 million Infrastructure Development Fund is now supporting more than 6,800 apartments and in response to industry feedback, applications for the Targeted Apartment Rebate and Unlocking Infill Precincts funding streams will remain open until 30 June 2025, unlocking more opportunities to support new housing developments.
“We also continue to look at all options to boost housing and land supply – including through Market-led Proposals. This is another example of the private sector and the State Government looking to work together to release critical land supply for more residential housing.
“This proposal could utilise the capacity of the private sector to unlock the potential of land that is currently constrained for residential development, at this critical time where we are looking at all opportunities to boost housing diversity and affordability.”
