A proposed 60-bed workers' camp to be built in the City of Kalgoorlie has been referred to an independent assessment panel, rather than face the scrutiny of the local council.
At this week's ordinary council meeting, councillors voted unanimously to send the proposed $3 million development to the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel (DAP).
Councillors Terrence Winner and Suzie Williams will sit on the panel which is overseen by the state government's Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, not the LGA.
The decision means the local planning authority will not decide the fate of the workers' camp proposed for 1 Porter Street.
'Reluctant support'
The decision to send the application to the DAP comes after the council failed to support several housing and development projects — including a scrapped plan for a row of townhouses in the centre of the city — that would have increased accommodation in the region.
Despite all 13 councillors voting to send the application to the DAP, some were reluctant to support the development.
"I guess in balance my thought is I will support it and, in some cases, reluctantly, but I'll support this because of the need for accommodation," Cr John Matthew said.
Mayor John Bowler said while brick-and-mortar housing was the preferred option, donga-style accommodation is what was needed to get the "1000s of beds needed now".
"It would be nice to have more substantial brick and tile dwellings, but they take years to build, and we can't wait that long," he said.
"The only way we're going to get this crisis accommodation is with you know, cheaper, quick, camp-type accommodation."
Short-term solution
Urban planner Petar Mrdja has worked across the Goldfields and the Pilbara in the Western Australia's north and said the quick approach could fix existing problems, but it could impact the long-term sustainability of the community.
"It's a short-term gain for the companies that need those workers, but it doesn't necessarily translate into a short-term gain for the community," he said.
Mr Mrdja said a focus on mining camp-style accommodation would not provide the solutions needed to support long-term growth and bring families to the region.
"Longer-term housing options are not only better housing options, but they're also a better option than having a donga … it's built for appeal," he said.
"It is something that's more flexible that appeals to families and couples."
Mr Bowler said the council was more inclined to support developments they may previously opposed to address the worsening housing crisis.
"I can see a changing mood within council from a year ago," he said.
"They know what's going on, they know we've got an unbelievably deep crisis, and this will just go a part of the way to resolving that."
