Rockingham, the Next Frontier for Development and Investment

Rockingham is poised for accelerated economic growth, with exciting opportunities emerging for development and investment, particularly within its Strategic Centre. 

Recent development milestones, including the endorsement of the Rockingham Strategic Centre Precinct Structure Plan, highlight the City’s growing importance as a hub for innovation, urban transformation, and economic diversification in Western Australia.

A Vibrant Rockingham Strategic Centre

The upcoming Rockingham Strategic Centre Precinct Structure Plan paves the way for significant housing and population growth, supporting the expansion of the Strategic Centre from its current population of 7,000 to 32,300. Offering a mix of strategically zoned private and public land, the plan presents opportunities for over 14,000 additional dwellings by 2050, including high-density mixed-use developments that integrate commercial, office, and residential spaces.  

Transformative opportunities have been identified across eight key sub-precincts. For example, the Waterfront Village sub-precinct presents significant potential for growth in hospitality and tourism. Opportunities for major hotels, short-term accommodation, and retail-focused businesses will further enhance Rockingham’s appeal as a vibrant tourist destination.

Anchored by the region’s main retail and entertainment hub, the City Centre sub-precinct provides the primary economic and employment functions of the Rockingham Strategic Centre. Higher density housing and quality commercial development with building heights of up to 12 storeys is permissible. The City welcomes new development that provides vibrant and well-defined urban realms and street interfaces, adding to the hospitality, retail, and apartment living options for new and existing residents.

Along Dixon Road, the Education sub-precinct has potential to become a future innovation hub, leveraging its proximity to Murdoch University Rockingham and South Metropolitan TAFE. This precinct focuses on advanced manufacturing and defence-related training, industrial research, and development, positioning Rockingham at the forefront of education, training and industry innovation. As the Education sub-precinct continues to expand, so does the demand for more mixed-use housing developments to accommodate the growing research, education and training sector.

Future Transformative Development

The Westport project located adjacent to the Rockingham Strategic Centre and Rockingham Industry Zone (RIZ), is set to transform logistics and trade connectivity, enhancing the region’s ability to attract industries seeking strategic access to global markets. Its development will generate positive impacts for Rockingham by improving trade flows and enhancing supply chain efficiency. This world-class logistics infrastructure is expected to open new doors for investment in Rockingham’s growing commercial and industrial sectors.

Member for Rockingham, Magenta Marshall, described the City as a rising powerhouse in Western Australia’s south west metropolitan region. “Rockingham’s strategic position makes it a leader in emerging sectors such as renewable hydrogen, and critical minerals processing, as well as maritime and defence technology. These align closely with state and federal priorities, including energy decarbonisation and economic diversification, ensuring the City remains at the forefront of innovation and job creation”.

Strategic Advantages

Rockingham has unique strengths, not least being its strategic location just 45 km from Perth which offers a unique combination of urban potential and coastal lifestyle. With major transformative projects right on its doorstep, Rockingham’s investment and development potential for multi-storey mixed use developments encompassing retail, hospitality, office space and apartment living is soon to be realised.

Mayor Deb Hamblin said the City had a growing role as a centre for defence, advanced manufacturing, integrated supply chain, and tourism, particularly given its proximity to the Western Trade Coast, (future) Westport, and HMAS Stirling (Australia’s largest naval base).

“As part of the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, Rockingham and the wider region will benefit from the $8 billion injected by the federal government into the nearby HMAS Stirling naval base,” Mayor Hamblin said. 

“This once-in-a-generation development is set to transform Rockingham into a critical player in the defence sector.

The City is actively advocating for the development and expansion of additional community and transport infrastructure, and the provision of more defence-related training programs to support the local community. Rockingham has great potential for hosting a defence training, research and innovation hub of national significance.”  

The Rockingham Strategic Centre Precinct Structure Plan represents a bold vision for the City’s future, combining sustainable urban development with economic opportunity. With clear plans in place to support growth, Rockingham is ready to welcome investors and developers seeking to be part of this transformative era.

AUKUS: A trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and United States which will use HMAS Stirling at Garden Island, Rockingham, Western Australia, as a rotational base for nuclear-powered submarines

Westport: Westport is the WA State Government’s planning program to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana, just north of Rockingham, Western Australia. This includes planning new port facilities, a connected road and rail freight system, and logistics operations.