Close-knit feel a plan priority

Residents were invited to help craft the future of Dampier as a new structure plan set to guide the town’s revitalisation is being developed.

The City of Karratha has engaged Perth-based urban planning company Taylor Burrell Barnett to prepare the structure plan for the development of the Dampier town site.

To make sure Dampier residents’ voices were heard, TBB and the City hosted two workshops last month at which the community gave input into what people would like to see in the town.

The structure plan comes as large parcels of the Dampier townsite are no longer restricted by mining leases.

Dampier Community Association president Gill Furlong said there were many suggestions raised, including a new pontoon; completion of the entire foreshore development; a connection between the town centre and the foreshore; and improved street lighting and footpaths. “People also really want to maintain what Dampier is: a safe, small-town feel, and we love that.

“That is important for us to maintain that status quo. I don’t think anyone is hugely keen to have it open up and have more development than it already is.”

Ms Furlong said more than 100 people attended the workshops over two days.

“They were well represented by the community. We as the community association believe it’s a great opportunity for us to have an input as the community into our vision for what Dampier will look like in the next five, 10 or 15 years,” she said. “We really want to embrace the opportunity.”

A City of Karratha spokesperson said the plan would guide the development of Dampier over the next 10-15 years.

“A range of suggestions were made at the workshop, with an overarching desire to retain the town’s close-knit community feel,” they said.

The draft structure plan is set to be completed this month and presented to the public in September.