The City of Karratha has been recognised for its efforts to deliver housing solutions in Karratha.
The City received the Local Government Authority of the Year award at the annual Urban Development Institute of Australia WA awards on 13 September for its Housing Action Plan known as ‘Project Dorothy’- a nod to The Wizard of Oz, aiming to drop houses on the City’s wicked housing crisis.
This category required the local government to demonstrate ways it was driving housing supply, a collaborative culture with the development sector and a strategic approach to housing and infrastructure.
The City-led initiative has resulted in a number of projects progressing through partnerships with developers and the State Government. These projects are set to deliver 153 new homes and up to 170 new residential lots, and include innovative models which include build to rent, modular builds, and affordable financing.
City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott said this recognition reflected the collaboration, innovation, and determination of the community, partners, and teams.
“This is great recognition of all the hard work put in by our City staff, Councillors and external partners to generate more land and housing supply in our region,” Cr Scott said.
“Housing is the single most critical issue facing our community, and with a booming resources sector and a new World Heritage listing, we face a housing crisis.
“Median rents in Karratha are Australia’s highest at $1,450 per week with rental vacancy rates at just 0.3%, and construction costs and finance remain significant barriers.
“The City will continue to pursue initiatives that deliver more housing for our community and Project Dorothy has shown how local government can move beyond regulation to enable solutions, de-risk investment, and deliver real outcomes.”