- Warambie Estate wins UDIA Judges Award for Affordable Development
- Houses for up to 250 workers not employed in the resources industry
Karratha's Warambie Estate has been recognised by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) as an innovative initiative to address affordable accommodation.
Designed to provide subsidised housing for up to 250 workers not employed in the resources industry, the popular project was the first of its kind in Western Australia.
Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said the estate was rapidly developed by the State Government's LandCorp and National Lifestyle Villages in response to the high rental rates experienced from resource sector growth in WA's North-West.
"Housing affordability has become a major issue in the Pilbara region as a result of unprecedented demand and inflated prices for accommodation driven by the resources industry," Mr Grylls said.
"For small local businesses, the lack of affordable housing makes it difficult to source and keep employees. Many business owners are forced to heavily subsidise employee accommodation on top of already high wage costs.
"The Government is able to offer long-term tenancy opportunities for families with rents ranging from $350 to $500 per week as opposed to the average rent for a three-bedroom house in Karratha of $1,697 per week."*
The 100 one, two and three-bedroom units were pre-fabricated in Perth and transported to Karratha by road train. The estate is designed to provide accommodation that is lacking in housing options available to many small business workers in Karratha. Key features include a central park area with children's play equipment and barbecues.
The Minister said the success of the project had captured the attention of other regional towns, such as Port Hedland and Newman, with work under way on service workers' accommodation in Port Hedland and preliminary work commencing in Newman.
Fact File
*Pilbara Housing and Land Snapshot June 2011 by Pilbara Development Commission- Winner of the Judges Award in Affordable Development category at 2012 State UDIA Awards for Excellence
- Partnership between Dept of Regional Development and Lands, LandCorp and National Lifestyle Villages
- Funded by $30.4million from Royalties for Regions
- Full tenancy reached in November 2011
Minister's office - 6552 5500
