Land deal allows Eaton growth

An agreement between the State Government and the Dardanup Shire Council will see land near the Eaton Fair precinct transferred to the council to allow for future expansion at the site. The 1.6ha block sits to the north-east of Eaton Fair and the project will also include the development of a new civic centre and library. The land transfer means revenue from the sale of the land to the developer can be reinjected by the council into new civic, community and youth facilities. Dardanup shire president Mick Bennett was pleased with the arrangement and the opportunities it will bring. “It is fantastic, council has been working on this for probably five years, looking at the redevelopment of the area around Eaton Fair,” he said. “This is just the tick off from the Government for us to go ahead and get on with those plans. “Part of this will be our new administration, which will go in across the road from this land and the land will then be redeveloped by the Eaton Fair Citygate company for more retail and apartments. The existing administration building will be demolished as part of the project. “It may have taken us a while, but we had to do everything in the best interests of everybody and I think we have done that,” Cr Bennett said. “It is going to be magnificent for employment in our area as well as for our future activities that will come out of the town square that will be developed. Lands Minister Ben Wyatt said growth in the area required the State Government to be clever with its use of land. “The rapid expansion being experienced across our South West region is driving demand for innovative land use planning and development outcomes that will meet the future needs of a growing population,” he said. “The transfer of this underutilised parcel of Crown land is a successful example of giving local government leverage to invest in social as well as financial capital, creating community assets such as library services and shared collaborative spaces.”