State Government invests $8.7m to unlock council-owned land in Mahomets Flats for up to 140 key-worker homes

The State Government is investing more than $8 million to unlock a Geraldton coastal superblock in a bid to develop it for up to 140 key-worker homes.

The latest round of the Cook Government’s Infrastructure Development Fund announced on Friday includes $8.717m allocated to 165 Willcock Drive in Mahomets Flats, an 8.8ha land reserve owned by the City of Greater Geraldton.

The latest injection of funds to tackle the shortage of key-worker accommodation in regional WA totals $12.6m for projects in Greater Geraldton, Carnarvon and the East Pilbara, backing the delivery of 160 new homes for key workers and community housing.

The investment for the Mahomets Flats land will pave the way for works associated with water, wastewater and electricity infrastructure.

Early last year, the City of Greater Geraldton described the parcel of land as a “blank canvas” for developers looking to boost housing stocks in the city.

The land reserve had previously been put out to tender for different projects, to no avail. The council had been in discussions with the State Government to change the land tenure to freehold.

More than $35.8m has been committed through stream three of the IDF, supporting the delivery of about 900 new key-worker or community housing dwellings across the regions.

Treasurer Rita Saffioti said the State Government was committed to delivering more housing across WA, including boosting the supply of key-worker accommodation in regional communities.

“By supporting housing in our regions, we’re also supporting the workforce, industries and economic growth that underpin Western Australia’s economy,” she said.

Planning and Lands Minister John Carey added: “Our Government acknowledges that many housing projects in regional WA face feasibility challenges and this investment demonstrates how we’re supporting industry to overcome those hurdles.”

The Mahomets Flats land reserve is close to the $4.7m Olive Street project, which is under construction and consists of seven executive homes for key public servants. The council has contributed $3.1m towards the project, with a $1.6m allocation from the State Government.

In recent times, the council has faced criticism for venturing into the housing market amid claims that it is an overreach of its core duties and responsibilities.

Last year, then-city development services director Ryan Hall told the Geraldton Guardian that while local government was not in charge of housing, they were aiming to meet the community’s needs.

“We’ve listened to our community and to our businesses, and they’ve said that housing is really important to them, and accessing affordable and well-located housing,” he said.

“We currently control the land, and we’re facilitating a process to unlock that land that’s currently not doing too much.

“There’s no housing on it, but it’s capable of having housing on it, so we want to work with a developer to attract them into town so they can invest in building houses locally.”