Published on Thursday, 21 November 2024 at 9:34:24 AM
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale welcomes a new report by the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA (UDIA WA), which names a strategic corridor in the Shire as key to unlocking thousands of housing opportunities.
The UDIA WA Growth Areas Infrastructure Requirements Report identifies Mundijong and East Wellard in the Southern Growth Corridor as one of three key growth areas in Perth with the capacity to significantly boost housing potential, addressing Western Australia’s housing crisis.
With Mundijong having the capacity to accommodate thousands of new residential lots, the Shire backs the UDIA WA’s call for an initial investment of $421 million in critical enabling infrastructure funding across the three areas identified.
Within the Shire, the UDIA WA report highlights the need for urgent upgrades to Mundijong Road and its intersections, as well as the area’s power and water and wastewater infrastructure. This lack of critical enabling infrastructure is currently limiting the potential for housing development.
In addition, research by the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) released today, reinforces the need for investment in infrastructure to support sustainable growth in the region.
A state-by-state review of gaps in access to infrastructure undertaken by the Australian Urban Observatory at RMIT for NGAA shows an infrastructure investment deficit between Growth Areas and established suburbs.
Federal and State Government infrastructure investment has not kept pace with population growth, leaving WA growth area communities with deficits across three out of four areas. This includes a 46% gap in access to health care, a 53% gap in sports and leisure facilities and a 65% gap in access to arts and culture centres.
The Shire continues to advocate for this critical infrastructure, working collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that development is ready to occur once infrastructure is secured for funding.
Shire President Rob Coales said that the findings of both reports aligned with the Shire’s State and Federal election funding requests for upgrading key roads within the Shire, and for delivering urgent community infrastructure.
As part of its 2025 election priorities and requests, the Shire is advocating for $44.2 million for upgrades to nine priority roads and $43.77 million for the expansion of the SJ Community Recreation Centre.
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale is one of Australia’s fastest-growing local government areas, with a 5.6% population increase in 2022-23, reaching 36,739 residents—a staggering 225% growth since 2001.
It will double again in the next 15 years, reaching more than 70,000 people by 2035. Reaching this target is possible provided infrastructure is coordinated for delivery in the short term.
For more information on the Shire’s advocacy projects, visit: Advocacy 2025 » Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale
Read the UDIA WA Growth Area Infrastructure Requirements Report: UDIA WA Report
Comments attributable to Shire President Rob Coales:
“The UDIA WA and NGAA reports underline the urgent need for Federal and State Government action.
“With Byford seeing a natural population increase of 404 babies in 2022-23—the highest in Western Australia—the demand for housing and infrastructure is undeniable. Byford grew by the second largest amount of any suburb in WA during that year also, pointing to the capacity for the Shire to ensure development is delivered.
“As one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, the Shire is facing both tremendous opportunity and significant pressure.
“To meet future needs, we need the Federal and State Governments to fund critical infrastructure projects that will enhance liveability and unlock housing opportunities.”
Comments attributable to UDIA WA Acting CEO Sarah Macaulay:
“The strategic planning, funding and delivery of key enabling infrastructure in the three areas highlighted in UDIA WA’s Growth Areas Infrastructure Requirements Report could catalyse the delivery of up to 90,000 homes across the Perth Metro Area.
“The Southern Corridor, including Mundijong and East Wellard in particular, were identified as areas with the potential to unlock the delivery of thousands of new homes, if the enabling infrastructure can be secured.
“The most effective way we can alleviate the current housing crisis, is to facilitate the delivery of more homes, faster.
“It is great to see the Shire proactively engaging with industry and the State Government in an effort to secure the funding needed to catalyse the delivery of much needed homes.
“UDIA WA is keen to continue to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve the best outcome for local communities and get more homes on the ground, in the places they are most needed.”
Comments attributable to NGAA: Bronwen Clark, CEO
“It’s promising to see industry realise the potential of growth areas to meet our housing deficit, but as our data shows, people need more than just rooves and walls. They need access to schools, healthcare, employment opportunities, roads and open spaces. They need community.
“Perth’s Growth Areas are currently home to 1.1 million people who have come to these new suburbs on the promise of living the Australian dream of home ownership with room for kids to play in the yard. Without proper access to basic social infrastructure, these families are being set up to fail.
“With Growth Areas expected to accommodate 59% of Australia’s population boom in the next six years, it’s vital that we fix the blind spots in infrastructure investment. That’s how we’ll fully realise the potential of these suburbs to solve the housing crisis, without creating new crises for future generations.”
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