- State Budget includes major investment to deliver more housing in the Pilbara
- More than $43 million to unlock 169 new residential lots in Karratha
- New Keystart loan products to support regional families into affordable homes
- Higher thresholds for stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers
- Treasurer and Housing and Works Minister lead housing roundtable in Karratha today
- Budget also includes investment across a range of critical areas to support the community and economic development
The Pilbara region will see a major uplift in housing investment as a result of the recently released 2025-26 State Budget.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti and Housing and Works Minister John Carey visited the region to outline the major investment and hosted a housing roundtable with key stakeholders to discuss new ideas and proposals aimed at boosting housing supply.
The budget handed down on Thursday included a range of new initiatives that will support housing supply and affordability in the Pilbara region including:
- $43.2 million to deliver 169 lots in the Mulataga residential development in Karratha, partially funded by the Commonwealth Government;
- new Keystart home loan product for modular homes, providing more affordable housing options for people in the Pilbara;
- increased thresholds for stamp duty exemptions and concessions for first home buyers, with higher levels across regional areas including the Pilbara; and
- $103.8 million in funding to deliver more Government Regional Officer Housing homes for essential government workers in the regions, including in the Pilbara.
A range of other Pilbara-based initiatives supporting economic growth and the community were also funded in the budget including:
- $500 million to boost for the Strategic Industrial Area fund, to $1 billion, which will support more business investment into key job creating industrial areas such as Maitland, Boodarie, Anketell and Ashburton North;
- $35million to progress road works at the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility in PortHedland;
- $22.5 million towards a new Hedland Aquatic Centre at the Wanangkura Stadium;
- $20.6 million for the Onslow Seawater Desalination Plant;
- $7.5 million for the Newman Youth and Community Hub;
- $2 million for new STEM facilities at Hedland Senior High School;
- $1.2 million for outdoor sporting facility upgrades at Peg's Creek Primary School;
- $1 million to upgrade the hard courts at Dampier Primary School;
- $900,000 to upgrade shade and play equipment at South Hedland Primary School;
- project planning funding for delivery for an eight-bed Karratha Renal Dialysis Facility and Hostel;
- $300,000 to upgrade medical facilities at the Hedland, Impala and Karratha Kart Clubs; and
- capped public transport fares on the TransKarratha and TransHedland bus services
Full details on all initiatives funded in the 2025-26 State Budget can be found online at: https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"Housing remains one of our top priorities, and the Budget handed down last week includes a wide range of initiatives that will support families in the Pilbara access affordable housing.
"As the powerhouse of the nation's economy, we recognise how challenging the housing situation can be throughout the Pilbara region, and that's why we focus a lot of investment and attention on boosting the supply of new homes in the region.
"The roundtable hosted today represented another great opportunity for us to engage with key stakeholders in the region, and discuss how we can work together to further increase the supply of new homes."
As stated by Housing and Works Minister John Carey:
"Our government is doing everything it can to speed up the delivery of more housing, with a new range of measures funded in this Budget that build on our record investment.
"From backing modular to releasing land for new housing estates, our measures are all about boosting housing supply and affordability.
"The additional investment of nearly $104 million for more Government Regional Officer Housing will deliver more than 100 homes for essential workers, including in the Pilbara."
As stated by Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
"I was pleased the Treasurer Rita Saffioti and Housing and Works Minister John Carey are prioritising the Pilbara with a series of meetings and briefings to detail the government's latest key economic infrastructure and housing initiatives.
"The Pilbara is the engine room of the WA, and I welcome these job-creating initiatives and look forward to the delivery of these projects to benefit communities right across the Pilbara region."
