Detailed design of multi-million-dollar Lot 7020 apartment complex delayed, City plans to go to tender in 2023

Plans to begin construction of a $55 million multi-storey apartment complex at the entrance to the Karratha CBD by October have been delayed with designs expected to be completed in the next financial year. Lot 7020 Sharpe Avenue, located at the entrance of the CBD, was earmarked by the City of Karratha in 2019 for development when the local government launched a pre-feasibility study for the long-disused block. In September 2021 the council went to tender for the architectural design and lead consultant for the Lot 7020 project. City Mayor Peter Long told the Pilbara News at the time council wanted to start in October 2022 and have the project completed by December 2023. However, at the June 30 meeting, councillors endorsed a motion to move the $305,000 in funds allocated for design through to the budget for the next financial year with the completion of design works to occur in FY 2022/23. Mr Long said the City put out a tender out for the design but only received one expression of interest, and it was not appropriate to go with that. “We’ll just do the design ourselves with our architects and engineers,” he said. Mr Long said the project was expected to have a return on interest of 2 to 3 per cent. “It’s going to take us a little bit longer, but nevertheless we want to have the detailed design done this year, all the drawings and everything and to go for tender next year,” he said. It would include 85 apartments and community facilities, such as a museum, art gallery, Indigenous interpretive centre and tourism centre. The project is estimated to cost about $55-65m, with funds to come from City reserves and borrowings from Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility or WA Treasury Corporation.