Government puts millions into residential development around Bunbury

14/4/00
Plans for about $45 million worth of residential development around Bunbury took another step forward today when Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames signed the heads of agreement between the Ministry of Housing and joint venturers Pindan Pty Ltd.
Visiting the city for the event, Dr Hames said he was pleased with the progress of the venture and that Pindan and local Members of Parliament had worked hard to ensure the public were being kept informed of what was happening.
Pindan, which has been in the South-West since 1992 and will establish a permanent office there, will be responsible for developing three land holdings in the area.
These include:

• Glen Iris, five kilometres from Bunbury City Centre, with links to Eaton and Australind;
• Shearwater, six kilometres south of Bunbury; and -
• the redevelopment of the old Bunbury Hospital site once the land has been handed over to the MOH.

Pindan will also be responsible for the continuing refurbishment of the old public housing areas of Carey and Withers, under the State Government's New Living program.
Under New Living, the Government is spending $300 million in programs around the State that convert areas previously dominated by public housing into pleasant residential communities.
This is achieved by redeveloping suburbs and reducing public housing to no more than 12 per cent.
Dr Hames said he was also pleased with the progress of Shearwater.
"Considerable negotiations over an extended period resulted in a compromise for the Shearwater plan, in which the Ministry of Housing gave up 20ha of forest to add to the regional park, making a total contribution of 160ha," Dr Hames said.
"I was delighted that the Bunbury City Council agreed to add a further 200ha, so that this fast-growing South-West city will now get a regional park similar in size to Kings Park.
"This will mean future generations settling here will be surrounded by an increasingly rare tuart forest as well as a green belt between the ocean and the Preston River," he said.
Dr Hames said the Western Australian Planning Commission had agreed to a plan which included ranch-style lots being located opposite to the regional park.
"This means protecting even more of the bushland," he said.
"There has been a big demand for this type of semi-rural living, where people can commute to work and return to a country lifestyle."
Media contacts: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450 or 041 791 7819
MOH: Janet Wainwright on 9222 4500 or 0419 910 2551