WA TODAY
The plan to house 60,000 people in Perth’s far northern suburbs was revealed today.
The land around the future Alkimos station, the first in the Yanchep rail extension, will become a Metronet precinct.
It was expected the precinct, coined Alkimos Central become a hub for the huge growth in population predicted for the Alkimos-Eglinton district.
Landcorp will head the development on a 212-hectare parcel of land east of Marmion Avenue which will start in 2019.
WAtoday’s investigation into high level planning documents suggest density in Alkimos will be greater than that of Subiaco.
Earthworks for the train station were expected to commence in mid-2019, with Alkimos station expected to be operational in 2021.
Currently Alkimos is a combination of dunes and swathes of yellow construction sand but Transport and Lands Minister Rita Saffioti said it would feature significant retail areas, mixed density residential development, business and service industrial precincts, plus a civic and cultural zone.
“Alkimos Central will perform a dual function of providing access to transportation services to its residents, but also serve as a destination to visit, work and shop in its own right,” she said.
Premier Mark McGowan said the project would provide a boost of around 15,000 jobs in the northern suburbs, including construction jobs and new employment opportunities in the new precinct.
Urban Development Institute of Australia WA chief executive Allison Hailes welcomed the announcement.
“The north west urban growth corridor continues to attract a range of new home buyers due to its affordability and proximity to the beach and other lifestyle amenities,” she said.
“The Metronet precinct at Alkimos will ensure the thousands of people living in the corridor are well connected with a train service at their doorstep as well as providing new retail options, businesses and higher density housing opportunities.
“With buyer demand for land likely to increase in and around Alkimos as a result of the opening of a train station, we expect the average price of new land to increase in the next couple of years.”
The average price of new land in the area is $228,000.