A development assessment panel has knocked back a $500 million plan to build a workers’ camp in South Hedland over issues on the design and the mystery surrounding the tenant.
A development assessment panel has knocked back a $500 million plan to build a workers’ camp in South Hedland over issues on the design and the mystery surrounding the tenant.
CIMIC Group’s infrastructure development arm, Pacific Partnerships, proposed construction of a six-storey development comprising up to 1,653 rooms on a 10-hectare lot on Parola Court.
The development was proposed to cater for visitors and workers, with the dwellings to be divided into 514 for tourism, 942 for workers’ housing, 192 for construction workers, and a resort cluster of six rooms.
Other features of the proposed workers camp include a tavern and beer garden, retail and services areas, recreation rooms or sport courts, and 444 parking bays.
Despite the recommendation to approve, the Regional Development Assessment Panel members unanimously refused the application.
At the meeting, DAP specialist member Karen Hyde said the proposal was inconsistent with the rural zoning of the land under the local planning scheme.
She said there was insufficient information and demand to support the proposed scale of the workforce accommodation.
“I don’t see it being integrated in the surrounding area. I don’t regard it as a high-quality design,” Ms Hyde said.
In the Town of Port Hedland's report, compiled by a planning officer, the proposal was recommended for approval.
However, minutes of a recent council meeting shows Port Hedland councillors did not vote in favour of the application.
Town of Port Hedland Mayor and DAP member Peter Carter likened the design to Alcatraz and questioned the identity of the tenant.
“A $500 million development in town is great but we still don’t know who the tenants are, we have no idea who the tenant is for the project,” Mr Carter said at the meeting.
DAP presiding member Clayton Higham said there was a high degree of uncertainty about what was being proposed.
“I had very little idea on what is actually being approved,” he said at the meeting.
“To present it as tourist style accommodation but it may or may not be used by the workforce. I just find there was a bit of oscillation from the applicants in trying to guess what will be approved.”
MinterEllison partner Nada Raphael, on behalf of Pacific Partnerships, said her client was a player in the resources sector but could not disclose the identity for commercial reasons.
Resolve Group planning consultant Jordan Busher, also on behalf of the applicant, said housing was needed to cater for the substantial economic growth in the region.
"Pilbara is in a housing crisis and Port Hedland is experiencing a growing demand in the workforce," he said at the meeting.
The subject site is west of Fortescue Metals Group’s Club Hamilton workforce facility and ESS Gateway Village, operated by Compass Group.
Pacific Partnerships collaborated with Ventia to operate the proposed workforce accommodation, with another CIMIC Group subsidiary CPB contractors set to build the facility.
