Business Plan approval marks major milestone for New Junction

Published on 25 October 2018

The transformation of the Midland town centre into a thriving commercial, residential and community precinct has passed a major milestone, with the approval by Council this week of the business plan for New Junction.

The approval of the Midland Oval Redevelopment Precinct business plan has formally cleared the way for the City of Swan to begin marketing New Junction to the private sector.

The green light follows an extended 12-week public advertising period, which saw the community invited to review the business plan outlining plans for major land transactions within New Junction.

The plan was made available at the City's Administration Centre, Libraries, and Leisure Centres, online via the City’s website and social media, and via direct mail to residents.

Residents and ratepayers were offered the opportunity to comment on the City's involvement in land transactions for the development, with a survey asking them

whether they supported or objected to the City acquiring and selling land to the private sector.

City of Swan Mayor David Lucas said the survey results were overwhelmingly positive, with almost two thirds of respondents saying they supported the plan.

“We received more than 8,000 responses to the survey, with 65 per cent of them registering their support for the plan for New Junction,” he said.

“What this has shown us is that the community view on New Junction has not changed since the first round of consultation in 2015, when again around two thirds of residents supported the masterplan.”

Mayor Lucas said the latest survey results showed every ward supported the business plan, including the Midland/Guildford ward due to be home to New Junction – with 60 per cent of respondents from that area voting in favour of the City’s vision.

He said the City would now commence planning around land acquisitions and sales within the new precinct. All future sales and development decisions will still require a decision of Council and a business case to support any recommendation. This will enable an orderly and staged approach to the development in response to market conditions.

“It is very pleasing to see the community embracing this transformative, once-in-a-generation project, which will deliver a vibrant, strong and dynamic town centre for people to live, work and play,” he said.

“We are looking forward to progressing New Junction, and bringing this new precinct and its associated growth, job and housing opportunities to life.”