AGENDA - Shire of Roebourne

Ordinary Council Meeting – Agenda 19 October 2009
Maintenance of Shire Assets
The residential planning of Western Australia's urban release areas has been predicated
on the public open space provision standard of 10% of gross subdivisible area. In hot arid
climates a 10% land area contribution for public open space is considered to be excessive.
Subject to the support of the local government, the WAPC may accept a public open space
contribution to a minimum of 5% of the gross subdivisible area providing:
• The public open space is designed, developed and located for the widest possible
use of the community, including meeting, recreation, leisure, entertainment;
• The public open space is developed to a minimum standard including all earthworks,
basic reticulation, grassing of key areas, pathways that form part of the overall
pedestrian and/or cycle network and maintenance for two summers, in accordance
with a landscape plan approved by the local government;
• Adequate areas are provided elsewhere for drainage and flooding, particularly
overland flow;
• Public open space is readily available in the community that can be used at all hours
of the day or night; and
• Does not include any restricted use public open space.
The maintenance of Karratha's parks, ovals and drainage corridors, under our extreme
climatic conditions, imposes a significant cost impost on Council. High temperatures and
limited water availability makes landscaping difficult and costly to install and maintain. It is
far more effective to minimise the extent of the open space provision and to maximise the
planting and on-going maintenance of shade trees and large shrubs within more confined
areas.
There are substantive benefits where expenditure can be allocated over a reduced area,
including an improvement to the overall amenity of retained open space.
Addressing Housing and Community Needs
Affordable Accommodation for Non-Mining Employees has been identified as a specific
need by the Karratha 2020 Vision and Community Plan 2009 (K2020). The timely release
of further residential lots is a key strategy in improving housing affordability. K2020 also
identifies the demand for a range of infant health, childcare, parenting, playgroup and
family facilities and services.
The strategy has identified twenty-three [23] ‗candidate areas‘ within Bulgarra, Pegs Creek,
Millars Well and Nickol comprising 18.23 hectares suitable for the creation of new single
and grouped residential lots. A community use site in Delambre Drive, Nickol comprising
1.45 hectares was also identified.
Allowing a conservative 700m² for single residential lots and 350m² for grouped residential
lots the indicative lot yield would be 393 accommodating in the order of 1100 people.
Further opportunities to extend existing residential lots will, no doubt, also come to light.
In fill subdivision also has the added benefit to draw upon the existing road network and
proximity to existing utility services, thus further reducing costs than simply expanding upon
the current development front.
Page 84