Latest news with #JohnCarey
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Builder says WA government's modular push neglects key ingredient for new housing
A country builder says the Cook government's decision to use so-called modular housing to address Western Australia's shortage of affordable housing fails to account for the lack of developed land. The government announced the low-deposit loans for modular housing, to be offered through state-owned lender Keystart, as part of a suite of housing measures ahead of tomorrow's state budget. But country business and community leaders say the homes will not be much use without land to put them on. The Shire of Waroona — a regional migration hotspot just south of metropolitan Perth — is a case in point. "We have had developers who've looked at developing land and they've been knocked back given there's no more capacity in our system," said shire president Mike Walmsley. Headworks refer to the initial water and power infrastructure required for residential lots and is carried out by the state-owned Water Corporation and Western Power. Housing and Works Minister John Carey said the government had launched "unprecedented" measures to unlock land for regional housing. "Claims to the contrary are simply false," he said. He said $40 million from the government's infrastructure development fund had been put towards reducing obstacles to land development, including costs associated with utility connections. "Recently, we announced the new $400 million Housing Enabling Infrastructure Fund to unlock land in both regional and metropolitan areas," Mr Carey said. "This fund will help deliver critical water and power infrastructure to support a pipeline of residential land supply across the state." Mr Carey pointed to the sale of more than 1,000 lots across 90 towns since 2020 under the Regional Land Booster program as evidence of the government's success. Mr Walmsley said Water Corporation had blocked potential housing developments due to pressure on the local wastewater facility, which had operated at capacity since 2016. The state government pushed back upgrades until 2028, according to the shire. Mr Walmsley said the government's responsibility to provide power and water to meet growing housing demand had seemingly been neglected. Local governments in the broader Peel region have been pushing for expansion of local sewage capacity to support new subdivisions and population growth. Regional builder Sam Karamfiles is based in Manjimup, 300 kilometres south of Perth, where land availability has also put the handbrake on housing supply. "There's definitely an undersupply of affordable land in regional areas," Mr Karamfiles said. "Even with major developments in Perth, they're all hinged on government decisions and red tape." In the farming community of Pingrup, 360km south-east of Perth, Carol Walsh began assembling a modular home to house staff on her farm in 2024. She claimed she applied to Western Power to connect power to the modular home more than two years ago. "If it had been a family home, it would've been an absolute nightmare," she said. Off-site construction has a lot of natural advantages in regional and remote areas with the tyranny of distance and acute shortage of skills making on-site builds more challenging. The government's pivot to off-site construction has been lauded by Master Builders WA chief executive Matthew Pollock. "This is very welcome as something that will particularly help in the regions and remote areas where traditional supply chains are stretched, which makes it difficult to build traditional housing on site," Mr Pollock said. Mr Karamfiles was not too concerned about losing business to off-site builders. He said existing regional builders were already stretched to the limit. Western Power and Water Corporation have been contacted for comment.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Lake Monger officially reinstates Whadjuk Noongar name, Galup, after Geographic Names Committee endorsement
Lake Monger's Whadjuk Noongar name, Galup, has officially been reinstated following formal endorsement by the State's Geographic Names Committee. On Tuesday, the Town announced the popular Wembley waterway will now be known as Galup after it was endorsed by the independent advisory body to Landgate and the Minister for Lands John Carey. Despite Cambridge council voting on a five-year transition to the name 'Galup (Lake Monger)'' in August, the Committee determined that the a transition period was unnecessary. 'Galup–Lake Monger will likely be used interchangeably by the community in the near future,' a Town spokesperson said. Meaning 'place where the home fires burn', the final endorsement of the Indigenous name is a step forward in the Town's reconciliation and recognition of Whadjuk Noongar people and culture. Whadjuk Noongar Elder Glenda Kickett said the change led by the Town of Cambridge is a positive step in the journey to reconciliation. 'The time is right, and it's significant for our people, so I think it is a great model for other areas and other councils to follow,' she said. 'But I'd like to see the State Government and also Federal Government take more of a lead in with these sort of things, where First Nations, cultures and languages and places of significance are recognised and acknowledged in the forefront, not at the back.' For thousands of years, Galup was home to Whadjuk Noongar families, where they raised and nurtured communities for countless generations prior to British settlement. It is believed between 30 and 40 Noongar people were killed at the site in 1830. 'We have a long, continuous connection and history to those places that have only been disconnected since colonisation,' Mrs Kickett said. 'So it's important to acknowledge those places and acknowledge the First Peoples that lived in those places, and sustain those places.' Cambridge mayor Gary Mack said the name restoration reflects the Town's respect for Whadjuk Noongar heritage and the importance of place names in preserving cultural identity. 'This is a proud and meaningful moment for our community,' he said. 'The name Galup holds deep cultural significance. By formally recognising it, we acknowledge the enduring connection of Whadjuk Noongar people to this land and take another step forward on our reconciliation journey.'
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Lake Monger officially changes name
Lake Monger's Whadjuk Noongar name, Galup, has officially been reinstated following formal endorsement by the State's Geographic Names Committee. On Tuesday, the Town announced the popular Wembley waterway will now be known as Galup after it was endorsed by the independent advisory body to Landgate and the Minister for Lands John Carey. Despite Cambridge council voting on a five-year transition to the name 'Galup (Lake Monger)'' in August, the Committee determined that the a transition period was unnecessary. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'Galup–Lake Monger will likely be used interchangeably by the community in the near future,' a Town spokesperson said. Meaning 'place where the home fires burn', the final endorsement of the Indigenous name is a step forward in the Town's reconciliation and recognition of Whadjuk Noongar people and culture. Whadjuk Noongar Elder Glenda Kickett said the change led by the Town of Cambridge is a positive step in the journey to reconciliation. 'The time is right, and it's significant for our people, so I think it is a great model for other areas and other councils to follow,' she said. 'But I'd like to see the State Government and also Federal Government take more of a lead in with these sort of things, where First Nations, cultures and languages and places of significance are recognised and acknowledged in the forefront, not at the back.' For thousands of years, Galup was home to Whadjuk Noongar families, where they raised and nurtured communities for countless generations prior to British settlement. It is believed between 30 and 40 Noongar people were killed at the site in 1830. 'We have a long, continuous connection and history to those places that have only been disconnected since colonisation,' Mrs Kickett said. 'So it's important to acknowledge those places and acknowledge the First Peoples that lived in those places, and sustain those places.' Cambridge mayor Gary Mack said the name restoration reflects the Town's respect for Whadjuk Noongar heritage and the importance of place names in preserving cultural identity. 'This is a proud and meaningful moment for our community,' he said. 'The name Galup holds deep cultural significance. By formally recognising it, we acknowledge the enduring connection of Whadjuk Noongar people to this land and take another step forward on our reconciliation journey.'
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Keystart: State Government's lender introduces new loans, schemes to help get more West Aussies into housing
Home buyers will have access to a range of new loans and shared equity schemes in a fresh bid by the Government to get more West Australians into housing. On Monday, the State Government's lender, Keystart, introduced several new programs, including a dedicated loan for modular construction, amid a tepid take up from banks and other mortgagees to offer products. As part of the announcement, promised by Labor at the State Election, borrowers will be offered low-deposit loans with additional progress payments to support builders and improve access to the new building style. The Government has also unveiled a new shared equity scheme to allow low or middle-income households to buy into a medium or high-density development. Keystart will take up to 35 per cent of a property's value to a maximum of $250,000 to support new buyers. Housing and Works Minister John Carey said he hoped the new dedicated modular products would make the construction method more viable for local buyers. 'I would like as many West Australians to take up modular homes. It's still fair to say that while we've seen significant growth in modular we still, as a state, across the board, have a fixation with double brick,' he said. 'There will still be some hesitation, but I hope this enables people to think about it as a serious option.' Master Builders WA chief executive Matthew Pollock welcomed the announcement as a major boost for the local industry. 'With significant ongoing market challenges and cost of living pressures, these challenges have continued to make it difficult for many home buyers. 'The new low deposit modular loan product is a fantastic initiative, as modular construction continues to become a more popular choice for many, especially in regional WA. 'And in having additional progress payments made available will greatly assist builders in their cashflow, helping sustain and grow industry capacity.' It comes ahead of Keystart being transformed into a government trading enterprise as of next month, with Labor announcing former minister Sue Ellery would join the board, which would be chaired by former Under Treasurer Michael Barnes.
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Eco win for Ocean Reef Marina development
The first stage of the Ocean Reef Marina development is still a while from completion but the project is already earning recognition after becoming the first marina development in Australia to receive 'EnviroDevelopment certification' at the highest level attainable. The marina was independently awarded certification by Australia's peak development industry body, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, for sustainable design and construction across six key areas: ecosystems, waste, water, energy, materials and community. Among the green features of the development will be a renewable energy microgrid, expected to reduce annual energy bills by up to 30 per cent for future residents. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The State Government also claims that more than 80 per cent of construction waste is being diverted from landfill, with recycled materials repurposed for use in roads, carparks, drainage and other parts of the project. Once completed, the project, which the State Government has invested $272.3 million in, will feature 12,000sqm of business, retail, and commercial floor space, along with more than 5ha of publicly accessible open space, including parks and playgrounds. A 50m coastal pool, the first of its kind in Perth, will be complemented by a family beach created using more than 7500 tonnes of sand trucked in for the project. An artist's Impression of Perth's first sea pool in the Ocean Reef Marina, expected to open in late 2026. Credit: DevelopmentWA / DevelopmentWA With stage one of the project set to open in 2026, Planning and Lands and Housing and Works Minister John Carey hopes the marina will become a major tourism precinct for WA. 'Ocean Reef Marina will become a world-class tourism precinct, featuring a diverse mix of residential options, lively local enterprises and attractions designed to draw visitors throughout the year, all underpinned by leading environmental sustainability practices,' Mr Carey said. 'This certification demonstrates our commitment to delivering innovative, environmentally responsible projects that enhance the quality of life for Western Australians.' The marina will also feature 1000 new homes, including apartments, single-residential dwellings and mixed-use developments. The project is expected to create 8600 jobs during construction and provide ongoing employment for more than 900 people once completed. The marina will have 1000 new homes once complete. Credit: DevelopmentWA Construction of the marina began with breakwater works in April 2021. Major construction activities, including clearing, earthworks, dredging and land reclamation, started in August 2022. The new Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club, Joondalup City RSL, and Marine Rescue Whitfords facilities are on track to open in late 2025, with the family beach and coastal pool anticipated to open in 2026 when stage one of the development is completed. Civil construction of the marina is not expected to be complete until 2030, with full build-out projected to extend beyond 2036. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.
