Councillors to vote on vacant Kambalda block earmarked to house ‘essential workers’

A vacant block in Kambalda West could be developed into housing for “essential workers”, with Shire of Coolgardie councillors due to vote on the proposal during Tuesday’s council meeting.

The vacant 1547sqm site at 23 Everlasting Crescent is owned by the Department of Communities and has been earmarked for residential development.

The meeting’s agenda item report said the shire had collaborated with Government Regional Officer Housing and State Government agencies to consider redevelopment of “underutilised and dilapidated” State Government-owned sites.

It said all buildings previously on the Everlasting Crescent block had been demolished, leaving the site “underutilised”.

The report said the block had the potential to house four or five dwellings.

It said the shire had conducted a preliminary review of several State Government housing assets in Kambalda and “identified that some are in need” of replacement or repair.

“Shire representatives have been liaising with the (GROH) program on site identification and development to support housing for State Government workers to live within the townsites of Kambalda,” the report said.

“Given that townsite boundary expansion is restricted due to mining activities, it is considered critical that the shire take steps to secure land tenure and development, on underutilised sites that are strategically located.”

If supported by the council, the shire will progress the purchase of land from the Department of Communities.