The Western Australian Government has announced support for more than 5,500 new homes through two funding programs, to boost the state’s housing supply in both the short and long term.
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.
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.
Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, said that through programs like the Infrastructure Development Fund, the government is fast-tracking new homes when they’re needed most.
“We’re looking to the future, unlocking land to make sure we can meet the needs of our growing State,” Premier Cook said.
“We know there are pressures out there in the housing market, but our policies are working, and we’re getting more homes built.”
Western Australian Deputy Premier, Rita Saffioti, said that 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,” Deputy Premier Saffioti said.
“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.”
Western Australian Minister for Planning, John Carey, said that the State 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,” Minister Carey said.
“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.”
Minister Carey said that the government continues 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.”
