❓ The Minister for Water outlines a $55 million investment in water infrastructure to unlock housing opportunities near transport hubs, particularly in Kenwick and Maddington, addressing a long-standing sewerage issue and enabling future development.
AnsweredQoN 279Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE — HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
279. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Water:
I refer the McGowan Labor government's
$55 million investment in water infrastructure to create new housing
opportunities in key transport hubs.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this investment will unlock affordable
housing development opportunities across Perth?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this vital infrastructure will connect new
housing development to new and existing transport links?
279. MR S.J. PRICE to the Minister for Water:
I refer the McGowan Labor government's
$55 million investment in water infrastructure to create new housing
opportunities in key transport hubs.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this investment will unlock affordable
housing development opportunities across Perth?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how this vital infrastructure will connect new
housing development to new and existing transport links?
AnswerView source ↗
I particularly thank the member for
Forrestfield for this question and for his advocacy on behalf of his community
on this matter.
(1)–(2) When
it comes to difficult issues facing communities in this economy, this McGowan
Labor government has shown its capacity to deal with practical solutions and to
be flexible with those solutions for the immediate need, but also to look
further down the track to what will be required in five or 10 years. We know
that housing availability is a pressing issue in Western Australia, as it is
across the country. We have been focused on finalising existing builds, new
approvals, workforce availability and materials availability to ensure that
housing needed now is delivered. We are also focused on what will be needed five and 10 years down the track. To that end, in
the lead-up to the budget, we have announced a $55 million investment in
the water infrastructure needed to create housing opportunities around key
transport hubs in eight to 10 years'
time. I announced with the Minister of Transport nine locations, seven around
Metronet hubs, for which the $55 million will enable up-front
availability of infill sewerage, water and wastewater infrastructure needed for
new developments. That will be for around seven Metronet sites. Interestingly,
and importantly for the member for Forrestfield, they will be around two
existing sites in Kenwick and Maddington. Those two sites are around key
transport links, particularly around train stations. It is really exciting to be part of that announcement. This
announcement sends a signal to developers and the community that the
sort of infrastructure that is needed below the ground—the
under-the-hood infrastructure—will be able to be delivered up-front. In
both cases, there will be some cost recovery. In the case of Kenwick and
Maddington, it will be about $5 500 per lot. The full cost of the
infrastructure at those two sites could be up to $90 000 per lot, so there will
be significant subsidisation. In the case of the Metronet sites, there will be
a developer contribution. That will depend on the amount of infrastructure that
is required, but it will be somewhere between $1 500 and $2 500 per site for
the other seven sites.
It was great to be part of that
announcement, which was warmly received by the community. As I said, I particularly
want to acknowledge the member for Forrestfield for his advocacy. Do not just
take my word for it. I want to quote from the front page story of the Gosnells
Examiner on this matter. The article is headed ''Kenwick flushed
with success''. It states —
Kenwick residents could be forgiven
for thinking they are living in a dream this morning with the State Government
announcing yesterday their 28-year sewerage nightmare was finally over.
The article also states —
Kenwick will be included in this $55 million
project and will be the first cab off the rank, with works anticipated to start
before the end of the year.
This project delivers the good news
by confirming that a budget commitment would be made to connect more than 15 000
new homes to water and wastewater infrastructure.
The article also states —
Gosnells Mayor, Terresa Lynes is a Kenwick
resident and said the announcement was fantastic news.
I quote —
''They've listened to
the community, and it's a no-brainer, that area is in prime position
for development being so close to the train station, it's got
high-density zoning,'' she said.
''It's definitely a commitment
that should have been made a long time ago but we are grateful it's now
been made.
''The residents are extremely
happy, I rang one person from the Kenwick Infill Sewerage Action Group to let
them know and they were in tears, they were so happy they didn't need
to know where their toilet water was going to go any more.''
Simone Perkins is an administrator of
the Kenwick Infill Sewerage Action Group Facebook page, and she said she was
lost for words when Mr Price informed contacted her to inform her of the
decision.
''I couldn't put it
into words, I was overwhelmed and thrilled,'' she said.
''There were times we thought
this would never happen so to get this outcome is amazing.
I am very glad to be part of a government
that is listening to the community and doing cooperative work across agencies
and ministers to get good outcomes for the community that means we have housing
not only immediately and in the near future, but also in the next eight to 10
years.
Forrestfield for this question and for his advocacy on behalf of his community
on this matter.
(1)–(2) When
it comes to difficult issues facing communities in this economy, this McGowan
Labor government has shown its capacity to deal with practical solutions and to
be flexible with those solutions for the immediate need, but also to look
further down the track to what will be required in five or 10 years. We know
that housing availability is a pressing issue in Western Australia, as it is
across the country. We have been focused on finalising existing builds, new
approvals, workforce availability and materials availability to ensure that
housing needed now is delivered. We are also focused on what will be needed five and 10 years down the track. To that end, in
the lead-up to the budget, we have announced a $55 million investment in
the water infrastructure needed to create housing opportunities around key
transport hubs in eight to 10 years'
time. I announced with the Minister of Transport nine locations, seven around
Metronet hubs, for which the $55 million will enable up-front
availability of infill sewerage, water and wastewater infrastructure needed for
new developments. That will be for around seven Metronet sites. Interestingly,
and importantly for the member for Forrestfield, they will be around two
existing sites in Kenwick and Maddington. Those two sites are around key
transport links, particularly around train stations. It is really exciting to be part of that announcement. This
announcement sends a signal to developers and the community that the
sort of infrastructure that is needed below the ground—the
under-the-hood infrastructure—will be able to be delivered up-front. In
both cases, there will be some cost recovery. In the case of Kenwick and
Maddington, it will be about $5 500 per lot. The full cost of the
infrastructure at those two sites could be up to $90 000 per lot, so there will
be significant subsidisation. In the case of the Metronet sites, there will be
a developer contribution. That will depend on the amount of infrastructure that
is required, but it will be somewhere between $1 500 and $2 500 per site for
the other seven sites.
It was great to be part of that
announcement, which was warmly received by the community. As I said, I particularly
want to acknowledge the member for Forrestfield for his advocacy. Do not just
take my word for it. I want to quote from the front page story of the Gosnells
Examiner on this matter. The article is headed ''Kenwick flushed
with success''. It states —
Kenwick residents could be forgiven
for thinking they are living in a dream this morning with the State Government
announcing yesterday their 28-year sewerage nightmare was finally over.
The article also states —
Kenwick will be included in this $55 million
project and will be the first cab off the rank, with works anticipated to start
before the end of the year.
This project delivers the good news
by confirming that a budget commitment would be made to connect more than 15 000
new homes to water and wastewater infrastructure.
The article also states —
Gosnells Mayor, Terresa Lynes is a Kenwick
resident and said the announcement was fantastic news.
I quote —
''They've listened to
the community, and it's a no-brainer, that area is in prime position
for development being so close to the train station, it's got
high-density zoning,'' she said.
''It's definitely a commitment
that should have been made a long time ago but we are grateful it's now
been made.
''The residents are extremely
happy, I rang one person from the Kenwick Infill Sewerage Action Group to let
them know and they were in tears, they were so happy they didn't need
to know where their toilet water was going to go any more.''
Simone Perkins is an administrator of
the Kenwick Infill Sewerage Action Group Facebook page, and she said she was
lost for words when Mr Price informed contacted her to inform her of the
decision.
''I couldn't put it
into words, I was overwhelmed and thrilled,'' she said.
''There were times we thought
this would never happen so to get this outcome is amazing.
I am very glad to be part of a government
that is listening to the community and doing cooperative work across agencies
and ministers to get good outcomes for the community that means we have housing
not only immediately and in the near future, but also in the next eight to 10
years.
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