Villas for employees and a future housing estate are part of a precinct proposed for a West Australian town by a leading lithium mining company in a bid to cater to an expected growing workforce in coming decades.
A development application for the precinct dubbed the "Paris Grove" has been lodged by Albemarle Lithium with the Shire of Harvey for Australind, north of Bunbury.
The plan will develop long-term accommodation to support the construction and operations workforce needed at the Kemerton Lithium Hydroxide Plant, and includes villas for up to 800 employees, six houses and 12 executive villas.
Albemarle Australia Country Manager Beverley East said the company was acting on new analysis which had shed light on the future needs of workers.
"The global outlook for lithium is very strong and underpins the worldwide transition to clean energy," she said.
"We are also aware of the ongoing shortage of short-term accommodation and long-term residential housing in the southwest and want to ensure we don't add to that pressure already in the market."
Albemarle Vice President of Major Projects Australia Joshua Rowan said the estate would feature green landscaped spaces and account for future public roads and infrastructure.
The expansion of Kemerton is expected to inject millions of dollars into the local and state economies.
Lithium-ion batteries are important for the transition to renewable energy.
