Published on Monday, 29 June 2026 at 11:01:38 AM
The Town of Port Hedland is continuing to progress its Local Housing Strategy, with community members now invited to provide feedback on the draft strategy following council’s endorsement at last month’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
In February 2025, the Town invited residents, local businesses and stakeholders to participate in a Local Housing Strategy survey to better understand Hedland’s housing needs, challenges and future priorities.
The response was significant, highlighting just how important housing is to the community and reinforcing the need for strong advocacy and coordinated planning.
Since the survey closed, the Town has undertaken further engagement with key stakeholders and completed detailed research to build a comprehensive understanding of the local housing landscape.
Mayor Jacinta Behrend said community feedback had been instrumental in shaping the draft strategy, but further input was required.
“We heard loud and clear from our community that housing is a key challenge for Hedland,” Mayor Behrend said.
“This draft strategy reflects what we’ve learned so far, but it’s important we continue to hear from our community to ensure we’re heading in the right direction.
“Securing affordable housing is key to attracting and retaining workers in different sectors including education, tourism, childcare, retail and hospitality – which only helps our town prosper.
“Even though housing isn’t traditionally a local government responsibility - we are committed to playing a strong advocacy role and working with all levels of government and industry to address these challenges.”
The draft strategy sets out a framework to guide future advocacy and action, aimed at addressing housing availability and affordability challenges that continue to impact Hedland’s liveability and economic growth.
The strategy is intended to strengthen the Town’s position when advocating to State and Federal Governments, industry and other key partners for meaningful housing outcomes.
Housing availability remains one of the most significant barriers to growth in Hedland, limiting opportunities for residents, businesses and investment. Median rent across the Town exceeds $1,000 per week, and although housing supply increased by just 0.2% per annum since 2017, this has been counterbalanced by significant demolitions in the West End.
By taking a proactive and coordinated approach, the Town is working to help unlock solutions that support a more sustainable and resilient future.
Community input during this stage will help refine and strengthen the final strategy to ensure it reflects local priorities and delivers a clear path forward.
To view the draft Local Housing Strategy and provide feedback, visit: Local Housing Strategy | Have your Say Town of Port Hedland
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