A plan for 50,000 homes in Perth's north is under way. But has the government really ‘learned from Ellenbrook'?
The long-awaited Ellenbrook train line, first promised to residents in Perth's north-eastern corridor in 2008, eventually opened 16 years later, in 2024.
Now, a new major development is under way to Ellenbrook's west, and there are concerns future residents could face familiar woes.
The first three precincts, including the development of 8000 new homes, within the East Wanneroo District Structure Plan, were approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission on Monday.
The plan outlines a total of 28 precincts when completed, which will unlock 8000 hectares of land over the next 50 years.
It is expected the development – across the suburbs of Wanneroo, Mariginiup, Gnangara, Jandabup and Pinjar – will be home to 150,000 people.
But the plans are not without criticism, with the first housing developments now approved without any transport, schools and other essential services in the works.
Housing Minister John Carey admitted nothing had been finalised, although those services had been added into the structure plan.
'It does have to provide for future schools, transit corridors. That will be realised at a later date, but we need to map that out right now,' he said.
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