Published on Monday, 22 July 2024 at 3:14:51 PM
Rolling your sleeves up to get the job done is a classic Australian trait; the Shire of Esperance continues this fine tradition for the benefit of our community, bringing new residential and industrial lots to market.
Without the Shire carrying out this work, new residential and industrial lots would not be created, as land development in our region is generally not financially viable for private land developers. The Shire is able to carry out development on a cost recovery basis, enabling continued economic expansion. Businesses can secure premises to trade from, and population growth is catered for with residential expansion capability.
The Shire’s 2022/23 Budget included over five million dollars for land development Major Capital Projects. Council’s largest commitment was to the Flinders Estate Stage 3 subdivision. Work on this Stage continues, with the process of planning and designing civil works to build roads and deliver power, water infrastructure and telecommunications carried out in the last financial year. Flinders Estate Stage 3 will deliver lots of around 500 to 1100 square metres, expected to be available for purchase by mid to late 2025.
Development of Flinders Estate Stage 4 lots reached completion during the 2022/23 year, and these cottage lots of between 230 and 330 square metres, not previously available in Esperance, are on the market now.
These Stages represent only a small part of the entire Flinders Estate area, with much more land available for future expansion. The master plan for Flinders Estate, available to view in the Planning module of our mapping website here, was first designed in 2002, laying out future residential density, a school site, parks, roads and tourism development areas. To address changed legislative requirements, community needs and best practice, the Flinders Estate Redesign Project commenced in the 2023/24 year, paving the way for future residential expansion to meet expectations for connected, safe urban environments.
Other Shire projects supporting housing supply in the last financial year are:
- Construction commenced on 4 units to be available for Shire staff, or if not required for this purpose, for other local workers. These will take some of the pressure off the local rental market once they are completed;
- A number of new lots on the corner of Ocean and John Streets, Sinclair, were levelled after the site was cleared in 2022/23 year. Design work for infrastructure servicing of the lots was completed 2023/24 year;
- Work towards the Worker Accommodation Project was carried out in partnership with the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission, with continued advocacy to State Government to get funding for the project.
Industrial land development also progressed over the last financial year, with significant sales at the Shark Lake Industrial Park (SLIP). The need for a new light industrial area with larger lot areas was understood by the Shire over 20 years ago as development in Chadwick filled out and no further industrial land was available in the Esperance townsite. The Industrial Park was designed to prepare the right infrastructure for increased economic activity and to attract business to the region. When a sharp rise in demand for these industrial type lots occurred, they were developed and ready to go, thanks to this foresight. CBH were the first to take up land in the Industrial Park, with valuable space there for continued expansion of their grain receival facility.
Recognising the importance of local industry to the long term economic performance of the region, Council also committed $200,000 in the 2022/23 financial year to develop Stage 2 of the Industrial Park. This was a timely move, as Stage 1 lots subsequently sold out during the last half of the 2023/24 financial year. New and expanded businesses are now establishing buildings and sheds, providing local employment and developing their expanded services.
Stage 2 design work has been completed, with development costs estimated and a business case to come.
With Stage 2 of SLIP and Stage 3 of Flinders Estate on the way, Council and the Shire continue in their dedication to planning for our community’s future and growing residential, social, health, business and development needs.
Together, we get the job done.
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