Latest news with #Waroona
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.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Why an Aussie bloke fined $25,000 by his local council thought he was 'doing the right thing'
A Western Australian man who was fined $25,000 for clearing native trees on his property and council land without approval has argued the gardening works were done for the benefit of endangered animals. Craig Wilson Donohue faced Mandurah Magistrates Court on May 7 charged with carrying out development in an area subject to a local planning scheme. Mr Donohue pleaded guilty for clearing and substantially trimming native bushland on his Forrington Heights property and part of the Shire of Waroona's road reserve. The trimming, which took place in late 2024, spanned an area of at least 1,000sqm of bushland which had been deemed an environmentally sensitive area. Mr Donohue claimed he was trying to 'do the right thing' by removing fencing and barbed wire from the area as he believed it presented a 'danger to native animals'. He also argued the invasive cottonbush, poisonous nightshade and South African weed watsonia had taken over the area and blocked native fauna from flourishing. But the council's prosecutor told the court his actions would have long-lasting and significant impacts on the protected area, the Mandurah Times reported. The Shire of Waroona claimed Mr Donohue's mechanical trimming and hot burning - an intense fire over an extensive area - had impacted the natural habitat of several endangered plants and animals. Council argued the marri and banksia trees, which are the natural foraging habitat of the black cockatoo, split open and died due to the heat of the fire. Native shrubs and ground covers were also substantially trimmed and cleared. While the prosecution accepted Mr Donohue's actions were 'somewhat inadvertent' they argued he should have received clearance from the council. On her ruling, Magistrate Leanne Atkins told Mr Donohue there would be a significant penalty for his actions as he failed to seek the appropriate approval. He was fined $25,000 and was ordered to pay $1,500 in costs to the council. In accepting the decision, Mr Donohue pledged to sow 200 plants over the course of two years to help with re-vegetation in the affected area.
West Australian
28-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Harvey's Cam Wellington is the 2025 under 18 boys State singles, doubles and triples lawn bowls champion
Harvey's Cam Wellington has bowled over the competition in his final bout at the under 18 State lawn bowls championships. The bowls talent managed to take away gold at the under 18 boys bowls State championships earlier this month in the singles, triples and pairs competitions. With an unstoppable performance, Cam ploughed through all of this year's competition undefeated, demonstrating his five years of expertise at the sport. 'It was pretty breathtaking really,' he said. 'It doesn't feel real to win one, let alone to win all three.' Cam competed against 30 other juniors from across the State. Coming out on top at in the singles completion saw Cam surpass East Fremantle's Elijah Blackward, who came second, and Waroona's Matthew Larkman and Coorow's Harper Wass who both tied for third. Turning 18 later this year, this was Cam's final attempt at the under 18s championship, though he said he was not nervous when he hit the green. 'There was a little bit more pressure, this being my last year to win something, but I had a good routine for the whole four days,' he said. 'I'd be up at six o'clock every morning and go for a swim, and then I'd be at the club first. 'I'd go out, inspect the green, polish my bowls, look at the wind and stretch.' It was his extra preparation which earned Cam the top spot in the competition, something he will continue to do as his bowling career progresses. 'Next is the open competition, and hopefully I can make my way from the bottom back to the top,' he said. Though Cam has significant experience competing in the Australian Open, his next entry into the competition will be the first time in the over 18s competition with the ultimate goal of playing for the Australian bowling team. 'I'll just have to work even harder than what I have been,' he said.
