Karratha's new main street transforms city centre

• New Sharpe Avenue to be focus of retail, commercial, civic and cultural activities

• Stage 2 of city works will connect the established city centre with the future Karratha Health Campus

The revitalisation of Karratha reached a major milestone today with the opening of its new main street.

Premier Colin Barnett said the new Sharpe Avenue would transform the city centre with more public amenities, an improved retail and commercial precinct, and a pedestrian-friendly environment.

The project was completed as part of the $65million Stage 1 of the Karratha City Centre Infrastructure Works (KCCIW), funded through the Liberal National Government's Royalties for Regions program.

"The new Sharpe Avenue has transformed the city centre into a more accessible and vibrant heart of the Karratha community," Mr Barnett said.

Sharpe Avenue has been extended to create a new main street which links with Dampier Road, and Karratha Terrace has been built as a new east-west link.

Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said the street also featured Karratha's first high-rise buildings.

Mr Grylls said the two nine-storey residential apartment complexes known as Pelago East and West had changed the city's skyline and helped to attract and retain residents by offering more choice of accommodation.

"These major infrastructure works, managed by LandCorp, have revitalised Karratha in line with the State Government's Pilbara Cities vision. Karratha is now a modern and exciting place to live and work," he said.

The bulk of Stage 1 is now complete and the final landscaping works, including a tree-lined streetscape and shaded walkways, are expected to be finished by March next year.

Mr Grylls also announced today that LandCorp had commissioned Doric to start detailed designs on Mirvac's Quarter project on Sharpe Avenue, as part of KCCIW Stage 2.

The project will include two commercial buildings with approximately 10,000sqm of retail and office space, residential apartments, a major public square, world-class hotel and multi-storey car park.

The $110million KCCIW Stage 2 will connect the established city centre with the future Karratha Health Campus and is expected to commence in 2014.

      Fact File

• Karratha City Centre Infrastructure Works funded through the Liberal National Government's Royalties for Regions program

• Pilbara Cities will guide Karratha's growth to a city of 50,000 by 2035

• For further information visit http://www.landcorp.com.au

Premier's office - 6552 5000

Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 5500