City of Greater Geraldton open to suggestions for key workers’ accommodation site in Mahomets Flats

The City of Greater Geraldton says it is open to ideas for land in Mahomets Flats, saying it’s a “blank canvas” for proprietors looking to create housing in the city.

The massive plot at 165 Willcock Drive is 8.8ha of reserve land owned by the city which has previously been put out to tender for different projects — with little success.

However, the city hopes an open plan with few specific criteria will be enough to encourage investment in the area.

According to the city, there are no limits on the size or number of dwellings, with the hope the final product will attract and house key workers in Geraldton.

City development services director Ryan Hall said while local government was not in charge of housing, there was an opportunity to try to meet the community’s needs.

“We’ve listened to our community and to our businesses, and they’ve said that housing is really important to them, and accessing affordable and well-located housing,” he said.

“We currently control the land, and we’re facilitating a process to unlock that land that’s currently not doing too much.

“There’s no housing on it, but it’s capable of having housing on it, so we want to work with a developer to attract them into town so they can invest in building houses locally.”

The city is in discussion with the State Government to change the land tenure to freehold, and has applied for grant funding to help unlock the site.

According to the city, proprietors have already reached out regarding the site, with projected expansion of the city being an attractive prospect.

Mr Hall said the investment would help attract people to the area, as well as provide increased opportunities for local businesses.

“It’s a very family friendly-community, lots of great infrastructure, but the pinch point is housing,” he said.

“By having new housing supply come in, that means more people will be able to live locally, hopefully ease some of the cost for people as well, and it provides local business opportunities, as well for tradespeople and businesspeople.”

The WA Nationals have previously committed to funding the headworks for the land to create workers’ accommodation, if they form government.

City executives will assess each submission, before presenting a recommendation for councillors to consider later this year.

Expressions of interest for the site are open for proprietors, with the city asking those interested to submit a company profile, concept proposal, time line, past projects, and financial feasibility.

Expressions are open until Tuesday March 11.

The project is separate from the Olive Street Housing Project, which saw the State Government contribute $1.6m towards the $5.99m bill to build seven four-bedroom houses, also in Mahomets Flats.