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Shaping Hedland's Future

Revised: May 2021

Where are we now?

The Town's Local Planning Strategy (Strategy) was endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission on 13 May 2021.  

The Minister for Planning has approved the Town's Local Planning Scheme No. 7 (Scheme) in accordance with Section 87(2)(a) of the Planning and Development Act 2005, which has caused the approved Scheme to be published in the Government Gazette on 20 January 2021.  

The Town would like to thank the community for participating in the Shaping Hedland's Future consultation efforts. A copy of the Shaping Hedland's Future - Community and stakeholder engagement outcomes report can be found here, which has informed the preparation of the Local Planning Strategy and the Local Planning Scheme No. 7. These documents will guide the next 10 to 20 years of land use planning and development within the Town of Port Hedland. This will have long term implications for the future of development in Hedland.  The following themes are outcomes from the Strategy's recommendations. 

PORT HEDLAND RESIDENTIAL GROWTH

  • The Strategy identifies up to seven potential high amenity residential growth opportunity areas: the Telstra tower site, the former recreation centre and detention centre sites, the remediated Wastewater Treatment Plan site, Athol Street Development Area, the Stables Precinct, Pretty Pool Stage 3a and a portion of the McGregor Street
  • The Telstra site was the most preferred site for future housing developments
  • People noted that the above areas would be an easier place to develop, well positioned to existing facilities, utility networks and roads
  • In making preferred site selections, people considered the relative risk of inundation or flooding, development start times, provision of appropriate housing types in the right location and cost
  • Two population growth scenarios have been developed to inform the Strategy. The first scenario is conservative: 18,500 people in the town by 2041. The second scenario is aspirational: 27,085 people in the town by 2041
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information

SOUTH HEDLAND RESIDENTIAL GROWTH

  • The strategy identifies seven areas classified as residential development ready land parcels: Trumpet Way, Koombana, Osprey, Western Edge, Hamilton Road, Forrest Circle and Osprey Rural
  • The South Hedland City Development area was the most preferred site for future housing developments
  • In making preferred site selections, people considered the extent of infill required to build new housing, improvements to street and neighbourhood amenity and preferred locations in proximity to school catchment zones
  • A creation of an entry statement was supported at Hamilton Road
  • Strong support was uncovered to improve the quality and maintenance of existing parks within South Hedland to service the needs of the community
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information

INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES

  • A third of online participants were in favour of locating noxious industry within Boondarie
  • People identified a number of priority criteria to determine the location of transport logistics, including quality of existing roads, type of vehicles, mode of transport (rail vs road) and noise impacts to residents
  • The Highway precinct within the Airport grounds was the most preferred option to base transport logistics, followed by Wedgefield
  • The community was in favour of relocating industry away from the Redbank Precinct, preferring to see investment in rural residential lifestyle properties
  • More information was requested to know how the Redbank precinct interacts with the Port Hedland Masterplan, particularly the area's capacity to accommodate increased transport activity
  • The draft Local Planning Strategy identifies Wedgefield as the primary industrial estate to accommodate future general industry
  • Strategic, heavy and noxious industry associated with the port operations is planned to be accommodated within the Boodarie Strategic Industrial Area
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

  • Potential tourism opportunities
    • Showcase local Aboriginal culture, knowledge and art as a centre piece of the local tourism offering, including eco-tourism of natural assets and sharing traditional practice on country (eg. dance, fishing)
    • Encourage and incentivise tourism operators that employ Aboriginal people to deliver tourism experiences
    • Acknowledge and embed traditional knowledge in the fabric of the town
    • Improving quality and quantity of rest stops
    • Holiday stays / farm stays on pastoral properties
    • Increase managed public access to fishing and camping grounds around the township
    • Be bold with new, unique experiences
    • Industrial tourism
  • Potential pastoral land opportunities
    • Explore alternative agricultural industries
    • Land use set aside for marine and/or air travel infrastructure
    • Incentives to be in place to attract sustainable pastoral workforce
    • Explore land use for alternative energy, for example wind and solar
  • Other insights
    • Lack of infrastructure to support economic activities outside of town sites
    • Support the Town to encourage investment and support for local businesses
    • Urban development can increase construction sector and employment
    • What are other ways to re-purpose mine sites, other than rehabilitation? 
    • Reinvest in community well-being programming
    • Support for more vocational education options 
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information

ENVIRONMENT

  • A proportion of the land within the Athol Street Development area is described as the 'King's Park of Port Hedland', due to its rich biodiversity
  • Protecting coastal and inland waterways is a priority
  • Conserve natural waterways and coastlines
  • Community members expressed a desire to reduce the adverse impacts to vegetation and local fauna
  • Strong support for more tree and vegetation planting
  • Promote sustainability as a value proposition
  • Increase opportunities for eco-tourism
  • Protect rivers and other waterways from chemical run off
  • Better management of fish habitats and recreational fishing
  • Manage invasive flora and fauna
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information

COMMUNITY

  • General support for more childcare within Port Hedland, including alternative models like home care
  • Support for more diversity of children and youth activities
  • Centralise broader community facilities near schools to act as a 'one stop shop' for families
  • Strong support to plant more native trees along verges and in car parks to increase shade and beautification
  • Increase food security and access to fresh produce
  • Support to prioritise maintenance and upgrades of current facilities
  • Avoid placing new infrastructure or development in areas susceptible to coastal hazards
  • Reduce the physical and psychological disconnect between Port and South Hedland
  • Develop more indoor recreational spaces for all ages
  • Centralise broader community facilities near schools
  • Encourage and promote sustainable living initiatives
  • Install better public lighting
  • More accessibility to public transport for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities
  • Support for youth services
  • Encourage more diversity in hospitality, retail and commercial businesses to increase activity
  • Click here to access the fact sheet for more information