'Pandora's box' in West End housing scheme

Port Hedland’s future West End residential area will be purpose designed to be unsuitable for permanent residents, council has resolved.

Last year, families with children and the elderly were excluded from living in the proposed area to discourage those whose health was considered “at risk” from high levels of dust emitted by nearby port activities.

But a submission by BHP Billiton Iron Ore requested permanent Residents were added to the list of those discouraged from occupation of the area.

Port Hedland Real Estate owner John Briggs said the exclusion move would likely result in transient workers’ accommodation in the heart of town.

“BHP have latent designs on the West End,” Mr Briggs said.

“They’re relying on the dust as a reason to reduce the size and number of apartments and so forth, but workers on 12-hour shifts, aren’t they affected?”

Mr Briggs said the area was a “Pandora’s box” which could lead to new owner-occupiers being unable to live there.

“When they start to implement that (exclusion list), people that have lived there for a long time or want to live in the area, or new migrants, does that mean they can’t?”

A BHP Billiton Iron Ore spokeswoman would not confirm whether the company was considering the West End residential area for its substantial accommodation development program.

“A variety of accommodation options are being considered in Newman and Port Hedland to support operational and construction workforces,” she said.

Local real estate owner Jan Ford was less concerned about the implications of the council decision for the town centre.

“The recent changes will encourage developers to build in the West End, bringing much needed cafes, restaurants, entertainment and services down town,” Ms Ford said.

“I am certain once all studies have been completed and our Government is convinced the dust is definitely not a risk, we will see permanent living permitted once again in the West End.”

In addition to a filtering air-conditioning plant, air-tight window seals, closed eaves and high-pitched roofs to encourage dust run-off, dwellings will be limited to two bedrooms and a maximum plot ratio area of 110sqm.