City to prepare business plans to tackle housing crisis

Five business plans to tackle a wicked housing crisis in Karratha to be investigated by Council as part of Project Dorothy. 

Expressions of interest were sought from developers and builders to partner with and deliver housing solutions across the City’s supply of undeveloped, development-ready, residential lands. 

Following this, 15 EOI’s were received and Council shortlisted five of them for further investigation. 

The City will now prepare business plans for five of the proposals which could increase the number of dwellings in Karratha by 273 and then report back to Council before a financing decision is made. 

While the business cases are being prepared, the City will enter negotiations with the WA Treasury Corporation as well as Northern Australia Investment Fund to explore low-cost finance to ensure sufficient capital to deliver these projects. 

City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott said the City was committed to exploring how to ease the housing crisis in Karratha. 

“Our analysis shows an expected shortfall of 1200 properties in the next two years,” Cr Scott said. 

“We are doing everything we can to address this shortfall and boost housing stocks to ensure Karratha remains liveable for our residents. 

“We need health care workers, hairdressers, retail workers and educators to be able to afford to live in our City for it to be a sustainable and liveable community. 

“Each of the shortlisted proposals provides a range of opportunities to deliver additional housing in the City in the short term, under varying development and partnering approaches. 

“By investigating these proposals, we will be able to determine their feasibility as well as the impact on the City.”