Overwhelming interest in Pilbara Cities

The state government says it has received "overwhelming interest" from developers keen to get involved in establishing Karratha as a major population centre.

Regional development Minister Brendon Grylls said a total of nine Australian and international property developers had formally expressed their interest to develop five parcels of Karratha city centre land and another 160 hectares of residential land at the suburb of Mulataga.

A shortlist of successful developers will be announced at the end of February.

"Short-listed developers will be asked to produce proposals to create a range of mixed use opportunities in accordance with the Shire of Roebourne's City of the North Plan," Mr Grylls said in a statement released today.

"At the same time they will also be required to design a premium residential community at Mulataga."

The rush by developers follows an announcement by the Finbar Group late last year that work on the town's first high-rise residential and commercial towers would begin in early 2011.

Mr Grylls said the response received was evidence that the Pilbara Cities initiative had gained significant momentum.

"Through Royalties for Regions we are investing an additional billion dollars in the Pilbara region over the next four years and this has sparked strong interest from the private sector," Mr Grylls said

"Developers both here and abroad are clearly recognising the potential a town like Karratha has to become a major economic centre.

"In partnership with the private sector, the Western Australian Government is committed to creating more liveable, well-appointed North West centres that encourage families to settle permanently, breaking the cycle of a transient fly-in-fly-out population."