New coastal gateway

Rockingham City Council is redeveloping 16 hectares of its waterfront town centre to create a new tourist destination less than an hour’s drive from Perth. Council and State Government developer LandCorp are developing the Rockingham Waterfront Village to cater for the City’s rapid population growth and tourist boom.

A draft structure plan has been prepared in consultation with a community reference group, comprising 20 members of the public, sporting clubs, Council and LandCorp. The structure plan is on public exhibition until 27 November, with displays at Rockingham City Shopping Centre on 13 and 15 November. The plan can also be viewed at the Council offices.

Rockingham Waterfront Village will include upgraded community facilities around a village square and village green created from the reshaping of Rockingham Oval. The structure plan includes a range of residential housing, safer streets, improved parking and greater use of the beachfront. Commercial development will be contained in the district centre to encourage existing businesses to upgrade their premises.

Mayor Barry Sammels said the rejuvenated area between Kent Street, Patterson Road and Wanliss Street would greatly enhance the City. He said the development would build on Rockingham’s “old seaside town” atmosphere to attract day trippers from Perth and longer term visitors.

“Rockingham Waterfront Village will balance economic and community outcomes by maintaining and enhancing community facilities, increasing the village centre population and providing a stimulus for local business development.

“Previous work by the City has reached a stage where many public areas have been upgraded. This has contributed to the private sector expressing strong interest in redeveloping land at Rockingham Beach. The revitalisation of our village centre will provide further impetus for that to happen.”

LandCorp General Manager of Operations, Mike Moloney, said the partnership with Council was critical to the success of the project, which will be serviced by public transport.

“The draft plan is a result of previous consultation by the City and the community reference group,” he said. “The project is expected to strengthen the City’s position as a strategic growth centre with a fast growing population and huge tourism potential.”

For further information visit rockinghamwaterfrontvillage.com.au or telephone (08) 9482 7492.