South Hedland to get facelift

BHP Billiton will build a key part of the multi-storey CBD planned for South Hedland after winning a tender to become the preferred proponent for the town centre project.

The development will straddle four lots and will include a five-storey residential building for workers, two storey town houses and a gym, restaurants and retail space that will be available to the wider community.

The project will be built next to the new Hedland Health Campus and will front on to Wise Terrace.

Construction is expected to start next year and to be finished in late 2014.

Regional Development and Lands Minister Brendon Grylls said BHP put forward a high-quality design that was responsive to the Pilbara climate and that would contribute to the transformation of South Hedland.

“The proposed development will produce distinctive and attractive multi-storey buildings that will create business opportunities and integrate with the new town square,” Mr Grylls said.

The residential building will contain 322 rooms, built to a four-star hotel standard.

The town houses will front Collier Drive.

Several commercial units will also be included in the project and BHP Billiton will offer low-cost housing for the staff of these businesses.

Under the Royalties for Regions scheme, the State Government has spent $23.1 million on the first stage of South Hedland’s revitalisation and work has started on stage two, following a grant of $53.94 million.