Kalbarri workers accommodation in doubt as NSW Petra Westkey enters liquidation and Perth suspends operations

Doubt over the future of Kalbarri’s workers accommodation has deepened after Opposition claims the State Government’s preferred proponent has closed down its Perth warehouse, following the NSW branch entering into liquidation in May. In a bid to ease ongoing housing pressures for workers in the tourist town still recovering from cyclone Seroja, the State Government unlocked suitable crown land for a housing development to attract and retain staff in March last year. The Government appointed Petra Westkey, or Westkey Modular Housing, as the preferred proponent. One year later, the Woods Street site remains a vacant block. Last month, a State Government spokesperson said Petra Westkey had advised they were “working through their financials and design of the project in detail”, but Nationals WA claim the Perth business has shut up shop. The address in Wangara is shared with its NSW branch, which was revealed to be under external administration. An Australian Securities and Investments Commission filing shows that Westkey Modular Housing is a business operated by Petra Westkey (WA), whose longstanding WA-based directors resigned in March this year and were replaced by a Canberra man. Petra Westkey is shown as now being owned by Petra Eco-Build (Aust), whose other subsidiary Petra Westkey (NSW) was put under the control of a Canberra-based liquidator shortly after the boardroom and ownership changes. A State Government spokesperson said advice from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage was that Petra Westkey had not ceased operations in WA but the department was making enquiries to ensure obligations were met. “It’s important to note, no financial or contractual agreement has been entered into between Petra Westkey and DPLH,” the spokesperson said. Shadow emergency services minister Martin Aldridge said the NSW branch entering liquidation raised further doubt on the future of the project. He said it was alarming the builder’s status had not been disclosed prior to the Opposition revealing it in Parliament. Shadow tourism minister Merome Beard said she expressed deep concerns about the status of the development as the State Government kept quiet on delivery timelines, or progress on the project. “For the minister to appear to have no knowledge that the State Government’s hand-picked contractor being unable to deliver this project is preposterous,” Ms Beard said. “The people of Kalbarri have anxiously awaited this project for years. It’s high time the minister provided a truthful and forthright account about the future of this development and whether the Government intends to honour its promise.” The Shire of Northampton have opted to provide temporary transportable accommodation units to house workers following the delay consisting of 15 caravan bays, an ablution facility and a camp kitchen installed at Anchorage Lane. Westkey Modular Housing was contacted for comment.