Cockburn City Council is working with the Western Australian Department of Planning and Infrastructure to build a major new regional centre south west of Perth. The centre, to be known as Cockburn Central, is now formally included in the Western Australian Government’s Metropolitan Region Scheme.
The joint State and Local Government development, which is managed by LandCorp, will serve an expected future population of 200,000. It will become the region’s new town centre and provide a major bus and rail link with Perth. In addition to transport, retail, commercial, residential and community facilities, more than half of the project’s 42 hectare area is to be preserved as bushland, open space, recreation and wetlands.
State Planning and Infrastructure Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, said Cockburn Central would be a step towards a more sustainable future, through the integration of transport and land use planning.
“It will provide a focus for community activities, recreation, shopping, public services and economic development, all accessible by public transport,” the Minister said.
Community involvement at the planning stage was seen as vital to the creation of a viable town centre. Members of the public, environmental and community groups, business and Local and State Governments were part of the consultation process. Topics included community facilities, cultural considerations, safety and security, the environment, planning and infrastructure and transport.
The Cockburn Central Project Team is now developing a draft structure plan that includes community ideas and feedback for the proposed regional centre. The first stage of development is planned to coincide with the opening of the Thomsons Lake transit station in late 2006.
