Peel Development Commission

The future infrastructure needs of Peel have been identified in a comprehensive Regional Infrastructure Plan.

Funded by the Peel Development Commission, WA Tourism, and the Region's five Local Governments, the plan identifies existing and emerging infrastructure pressures on the Peel region and recommends a unified strategic approach throughout the Region to respond to the planning and construction challenges forecast over the next 20 years.

Since August 2005 the Peel Development Commission has chaired a key stakeholder taskforce assembled to identify regional infrastructure needs likely to result from re-opening of the Newmont Boddington Gold Mine (NBG). In February 2006 NBG announced their commitment to a $2 billion expansion project for the mine, and in June 2006 commenced installing an accommodation village to house the estimated 1500 construction personnel. Site works subsequently commenced late 2006 and were completed for commissioning in late 2009. The mine has a 20+ year operational life requiring approximately 650 permanent employees.

Additionally, the BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina Mine Expansion is estimated to cost $1 billion with an increase in output from 3.5 to 4.6 million tons of bauxite. The mine is also located in Boddington and its life is estimated to be 49 years with employment peaking at 450 for the expansion project. Sixty percent of the construction workforce lives within 100km of the mine.

Following Newmont Boddington Gold Mine moving to full production, the accommodation village is scheduled to be scaled down in capacity, with employees encouraged to reside locally. Statistical projections indicate that Boddington’s population will double to approx 2600 by 2012, requiring up to 400 new residences and substantial infrastructure upgrades and developments.

Representatives of local Shires, relevant Government agencies, NBG and the Commission worked together as a committee to present a submission to Cabinet in October 2006 for infrastructure funding support. Consequently, the State Government allocated $9.55 million for expenditure over three years, primarily for the Shires of Boddington, Murray and Wandering to address immediate needs. This funding also facilitated the Peel Development Commission’s appointment of a Boddington project officer and enables various needs assessment studies to be carried out, administered by the then Department of Industry and Resources and the Commission. All of these funds were committed to areas such as development of industrial land; essential planning works and staff for local governments; road works and major road planning; extension to Boddington’s and Wandering’s administration buildings; contribution towards child care centre; medical centre and major plant and equipment.

Additionally, Cabinet has directed that relevant Government agencies will budget to provide for applicable projects identified in the committee’s submission. To date $50 million has been spent or committed by government agencies.

The need for suitably zoned light and general industrial land has been identified as one of the Peel Region’s highest infrastructure priorities for over five years. This was supported by independent research in 2004 that found the current supply of industrial land would be exhausted by 2008 in Mandurah and 2010 in the Peel Region. A Government study in 2009 confirmed that, unless further suitable industrial land was developed in the Peel Region, the divide between available land and unmet demand would continue to grow.

A taskforce chaired by the Peel Development Commission and comprising representatives from major stakeholders (including Local Government Authorities, LandCorp, the Department of Planning, Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Department of Water) continues to progress the development of appropriately sited light industrial estates within the Peel Region. Concentration has been on Pinjarra, Nambeelup and Boddington, with more preliminary work being undertaken in Waroona and Serpentine Jarrahdale.

A recent review by the Department of Planning has resulted in the Industrial Land Strategy 2009 Perth and Peel. This Strategy has identified a range of potential industrial sites for further investigation and ultimate development. For the Peel Region, in addition to the sites referred to above, Greenlands Road has also been added.

To date, the Taskforce has been successful in achieving the release of Stage 1 of the Pinjarra Industrial Estate, which has relieved some of the pressure for the short-to-medium term. In addition, much support work has been undertaken by the Commission in the development of the strategically important Nambeelup Industrial Estate.

Nambeelup
The proposed Nambeelup Industrial Estate is a 1,300 hectare site adjacent to the New Perth Bunbury Highway and is viewed as a medium to long term light and general industrial land option for the Region. This is a strategically valuable positioning of an industrial site for the Peel, having the advantages of proximity to transport infrastructure, teaching institutions, defence, maritime, and mining industries, as well as a potential workforce from the proposed Keralup residential development. Significant environmental and other planning studies have been completed or are in the final stages of completion. Initial lots, from land fronting the New Perth Bunbury Highway, could be on sale from 2011.

Pinjarra
Construction of the Pinjarra Industrial Estate commenced in July 2007, with Stage 1 offering 24 lots of between 2,097 and 15,940 sqm (plus one lot of 54,806 sqm). At the end of 2009, eight lots, totalling 106,123 sqm had been sold. Byrnecut Mining (trading as Murray Engineering) has purchased the largest lot in Stage 1 and will act as the anchor tenant for the Estate.

Waroona
The Shire of Waroona is keen to increase its pool of developed industrial land. There is potential for a 17 lot industrial subdivision, to the north of the Waroona township, to be developed; there are ongoing discussions with the developer.

Boddington
The Boddington Social Infrastructure Package has provided $1.2 million to the Shire of Boddington to fund the development of the Boddington Light Industrial Area (BLIA). BLIA will consist of 5 industrial lots, of which at least one lot will be retained by the Shire of Boddington for its (relocated) depot site.

Greenlands Road
The Industrial Land Strategy 2009 Perth and Peel identified the Greenlands Road area as a potential future site for industrial development. The Strategy proposed strip development to the north of Greenlands Road (between Pinjarra and the New Perth Bunbury Highway). The Council is considering applications for industrial re-zoning along the southern boundary of Greenlands Road.

Cardup
A sub report of the Industrial Land Strategy 2009 Perth and Peel identified Cardup, midway between Mundijong and Byford, as a potential future industrial site within the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale. The Shire’s intent was to create the land to the west of Mundijong as its industrial precinct, however they are not adverse to supporting a dual industrial land strategy for the Shire.