John Carey announces release of three new apartment blocks at Middleton, pledges 2500-home McKail plan

Labor is pumping through a pipeline of affordable housing in Albany as part of their re-election campaign, promising to fund a 2500 home masterplan in McKail if re-elected while announcing a three-block land release for apartments in Middleton Beach. Minister for Housing John Carey visited Albany for the second time this year last week, touting the State Government’s “significant” investment in the city. Mr Carey announced the release of three new medium density lots in Middleton Beach onto the market with council approval for apartment or townhouses of up to five storeys. Lots 7, 8 and 9 will be a part of the Middleton Beach Activity Centre, sitting between the Duette’s apartment block and the future Middleton Beach Hotel on Lot 10. The mixed-use development would cater for up to 70 new one, two, and three-bedroom homes on the foreshore as well as commercial opportunities. “Middleton Beach is going through an incredible renewal, and so we’re releasing three strategic key blocks in the precinct for medium to potentially high density housing,” Mr Carey said. Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens said the plans provide opportunity for “more local economic growth” in the retail, medical services, hospitality sectors. While in Albany, Mr Carey also pledged $825,000 to develop a masterplan for a 223ha site in north McKail that would allow the construction of 2500 new houses. Covered under the funding will be viability assessments and site preparations, including assessment of traffic and transport requirements, environmental impact, noise, infrastructure and servicing demands, demographic and housing needs, and stormwater and drainage management. Mr Carey said the commitment will help “pave the way” to “unlock” affordable homes in Albany’s dry housing market. “This is a proposal that’s come from the City of Albany and through the advocacy of Rebecca (Stephens) and at its heart, it recognises that the north McKail area, is ripe for future housing for Albany — 223ha, only 6km from the region,” he said.