The City of Mandurah has delivered a record capital works budget of $29.2 million for 2006-07, out of a total budget of $75 million, to fund an unprecedented level of building activity in the growing region.
The City of Mandurah has delivered a record capital works budget of $29.2 million for 2006-07, out of a total budget of $75 million, to fund an unprecedented level of building activity in the growing region.
But the allocation and growth it brings doesn’t come without strings, with local homeowners and businesses expected to shoulder a rate hike of between 4 per cent and 6 per cent.
This will help fund the development of a range of new sporting and community facilities, including the construction of floating boat pens at the Mandurah Ocean Marina, an eLibrary, two surf clubs and extensive road works.
The new Falcon eLibrary and community centre is the most expensive single development planned at $4.5 million, followed by stage one of Mirvac Fini’s Meadow Springs regional open space development and an upgrade to the Peelwood Reserve sporting facility, both with budgets exceeding $2.2 million.
A combined $2.6 million will be spent on road construction projects within the city, including the east-west link from the railway station to the centre of Mandurah.
City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said the level of infrastructure development was expected to continue for at least the next 10 to 15 years as the city’s population continued to rise.
Mandurah’s current population of about 62,000 is expected to grow to more than 117,000 by 2021.
Last month, the council approved the creation of 600 new housing lots, including 300 along Fremantle Road and 105 lots on Catalina Drive in Lakelands for Peet Ltd.
A further 81 lots were approved on Meadow Springs Drive in Meadow Springs for Mirvac Fini, while 115 lots have been allocated on Murdoch Drive in Greenfields for Dalesun Holdings.
Mr Newman said the city’s overall planning and budget framework detailed long-term and short-term planning for Mandurah, based on the Community Charter & Strategic Plan 2005-2008.
A 10-year capital plan from 2006-2015 is due for formal endorsement in the next three months with the aim of helping the council prioritise its longer-term capital investment needs.
“It will also help guide the city’s economic future in attracting investment for major projects, such as the CBD revitalisation, that will enhance Mandurah’s profile as a local, national and international tourism destination,” Mr Newman said.
Further works planned to start shortly include stage one of the $6.2 Allnutt Street sporting and community facility and $1.1 million worth of new pens at the Ocean Marina.
A new visitors centre will be built in time for the opening of the Mandurah rail transit station, expected in mid 2007. A shuttle bus service will operate from the station to the Mandurah waterfront.
Funds have also been set aside for Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre enhancements, including a car park extension and kiosk upgrade, and improvements to the Halls Head Community and Recreation Centre.
Also at Halls Head, the city has set aside a portion of its $2.2 million land acquisition budget to buy additional land within the Halls Head shopping centre precinct.
Later this year, the Mandurah Surf lifesaving club will seek approval from council for its $1 million clubhouse at Eros Reserve, San Remo, to which the city will contribute $200,000.
Down the coast at Port Bouvard, $800,000 has been set aside from the budget to go towards a new clubhouse for the Port Bouvard Surf Lifesaving Club at Pyramids Beach, Dawesville. Construction will begin this year.
What is left of the budget will go towards improving public amenity around Mandurah, and the implementation of environmental sustain-ability initiatives, Mr Newman told WA Business News.
