Geraldton council receives proposal to develop vacant block on Durlacher Street into apartment precinct

A barren bushland block at the southern end of Durlacher Street will potentially be given a makeover by an unknown developer, after a submission to develop the 5388sqm block was submitted to council this week. Though the City of Greater Geraldton received the development application on August 8, it was only approved on September 22 and Mayor Shane Van Styn said there had been discussions of the proposal for years. “We’ve been hearing about this for the last couple of years, but never had anything formally lodged,” he said. The proposed development will be a four-storey multi-purpose facility featuring five commercial tenancies, 40 serviced apartments, 56 dwellings and a medical facility. The development application describes the proposal as being “a service and support link between the medical, educational and short-stay facilities along Cathedral Avenue”. The block located at 238 Durlacher Street is in close proximity to Geraldton Regional Hospital and St John of God Hospital, and the proposal wants to complement the facilities with the provision of adequate short-stay accommodation. The ground floor will house the commercial tenancies with a cafe, consulting rooms and office spaces designed into the space. It is understood the medical facility is proposed to be a GP practice. The development will have 24 one-bedroom apartments, 22 two-bedroom apartments and 10 three-bedroom apartments. “We acknowledge we have a desperate shortage of housing so we’d be highly supportive coming into these medical practice facilities and accommodation, and hopefully it’ll attract some good quality tenants,” Mr Van Styn said. While there is an abundance of permanent residencies available, the 40 short-stay dwellings are suggesting the new project could be Geraldton’s newest resort. The rooftop terrace with lawn bowls and communal lounges will be complemented by the pool, gym and alfresco veranda available on the ground floor and the communal outdoor areas available on every floor. The high-density living model of apartment buildings allows for more residents to move into the city without having to sprawl Geraldton away from the CBD and essential facilities. The document states the “density and scale of development has been sensitively managed in terms of its interface with the adjoining residential property to the south”. Although the developer of the facility is unconfirmed, Perth-based Architects Perrine was responsible for the digital imaging of the project. Mr Van Styn said the proposal would be put to the Joint Assessment Panel in about three months. He sits on the panel and if the project is approved by the JAP, there will be a two-year period in which the developer applies for a building permit. Once the building permit is acquired, the developer is able submit a building proposal to the City of Greater Geraldton.