Projects

Project: Karratha City Centre Infrastructure Works Project

Client: LandCorp

Procurement: Government Master Developer (GMD) Model 

Stage: Design

In mid 2010 Appian Group was engaged to provide Project Management Services to support LandCorp in the delivery of the Karratha City Centre Infrastructure Works project. Services being provided include project definition, planning and approvals, site creation and land assembly, design management, contract development, governance, project controls, budget, client and stakeholder liaison, consultant management, tendering and award of contract, and construction delivery.

Located in the Pilbara region of North West Western Australia, Karratha is on Nickol Bay 1,557 kilometres north of Perth and 850 kilometres south of Broome. Karratha is the primary service and administrative centre of the Shire of Roebourne. In November 2009 the State Government launched its “Pilbara Cities” vision to revitalise Pilbara towns and to develop Karratha into a “city of the north”. In response to this vision the Shire in partnership with LandCorp produced the Karratha City of the North Plan (KCN Plan) which among other things includes the City Centre Master Plan. The KCN Plan offers a “roadmap” for the transformation of Karratha from a resource town to a regional city of the north.

This $115 million infrastructure project will implement the key structuring elements of the City Centre Master Plan which primarily consists of modifications and upgrades to: the public road network and associated utilities infrastructure to support the growth of the City Centre (including the provision of new roads and some existing road realignments, all in-ground services, water distribution (ring main/connection upgrades and pump station upgrades) and additional 22kv electrical feeders) which will all involve extensive consultation and coordination with numerous services authorities; and extensive landscaping to streetscapes, drainage reserves and public open spaces throughout the City Centre to provide improved amenity. In addition a Development Plan will be prepared for the City Centre to address the amended statutory planning framework which will guide the resultant subdivisions and future developments. The project will also see a detailed site creation and land assembly program implemented with adjoining landowners and other key stakeholders to enable the delivery of the Infrastructure Works in accordance with the approved Development Plan.

LandCorp has adopted a Government Master Developer (GMD) model for delivery of this city building project. Under the GMD model, the State Government and the Shire (through LandCorp) will assume the responsibility for the planning and delivery of the public infrastructure (Karratha City Centre Infrastructure Works), while simultaneously procuring a private sector development partner to deliver the built form outcomes on key initiating development sites within the City Centre and a broadacre land development for a residential estate to accommodate over 2,500 dwellings at Mulataga to the east of the City Centre (Karratha City of the North Partnering Opportunity) for which Appian Group is also providing project management services.

The initial construction works package is planned to commence in late 2011 and subsequent works packages will be continuously staged over the next four years to revitalise the entire City Centre.