Pilbara industrial hubs to grow with lots of lots

Major engineering contractor Monadelphous is already one of many companies to have taken up residence at the Gap Ridge Industrial Estate in Karratha, as eight new lots are made available.

The eight lots in Gap Ridge’s fifth stage range in size from 6722 square metres to almost three hectares.

Near Port Hedland, the Wedgefield Industrial Estate has opened its third stage with five lots ranging from 1.5 to 2.4 hectares – suitable for a variety of industrial and transport related uses.

Lands Minister Tony Buti said the new lots were hoped to benefit the industries that best served the state.

“The McGowan Government has made a big investment to ensure the rapid development of industrial land across the state, with a focus on regional Western Australia and businesses supporting the resources industry,” Buti said.

“This commitment has resulted in an increasing supply of industrial land to meet growing demand.”

Stages one and two at Wedgefield have already sold out to more than 20 businesses including Komatsu, Bridgestone, Qube and Reece Plumbing, all taking advantage of the estate’s access to power, water, the national broadband network (NBN) and sewerage.

In October, DevelopmentWA chief executive Frank Marra discussed the benefits of strategic industrial areas (SIA) with Australian Mining.

The Kwinana and Rockingham SIAs in the state’s southwest – home to the likes of BHP and Tianqi Lithium – inspire similar synergies to those planned in the Pilbara.

“The Kwinana SIA and the neighbouring Rockingham SIA are part of the world’s largest integrated ecology industrial estates,” Marra said.

“They support growth among industrial businesses by facilitating access to extensive common-use infrastructure, deep pools of skilled labour and proximity to other industrial businesses inputs and outputs that exhibit a high degree of complementarity.”

Pilbara Minister Kevin Michel said it was hoped a broad range of businesses would take up the call to join the Pilbara’s resources sectors.

“This strategic land release will attract new businesses to Port Hedland and Karratha, which will help diversify our local economy,” Michel said

“These industrial lots are a fantastic opportunity for new businesses to join our local business community, providing jobs and growth for the Pilbara.”