LIMESTONE extraction from a Neerabup landholding is expected to generate a new revenue stream for the City of Wanneroo.
The City has developed a business plan for a major trading undertaking to extract about 3.7 million cubic metres of limestone and 3.2 million cubic metres of sand in the Neerabup industrial area to prepare it for future development.
The plan said the City intended to engage a contractor to quarry the land, selling limestone and sand to the construction industry, and extraction could take up to 10 years.
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READ NOW“As the quarry works are completed, the land will be re-contoured to facilitate subdivision and development,” it said.
“The City proposes to remove the sand and limestone resources within the land in order to achieve the required final contour levels and set up a major trading opportunity.
“The material will be removed and processed for sale under a contract and extractive industries licence.
“Based on current market value of the raw material, this major undertaking will generate a significant income for the local market and the City will receive revenue in the form of royalties.
“The expected revenue for the City is dependent on the quality of the material and these royalties will be reinvested into the City’s reserve fund.”
At the council briefing session, economic development manager Ian Martinus said the industrial development would generate jobs.
“It’s a strategic future employment location, which is well serviced by Wanneroo Road,” he said.
Councillor Domenic Zappa asked what would be the dollar value of the “significant revenue” and Dr Martinus said that would depend on the quality of sand and limestone.
“We’ve got a whole range of numbers,” he said.
At the December council meeting, Cr Zappa said the revenue would fund infrastructure needed in the City.
“It’s going to deliver a significant return to ratepayers,” he said.
“Neerabup industrial area is going to be a major hub for jobs within the northern coastal corridor.
“For us to get to that we need to take out this valuable limestone which is sitting under there.”
The business plan said Neerabup could become a “transformational industrial area” with new ideas, methods and technologies.
“The City is keen to ensure that the area is developed with industries that represent leading edge businesses that promote best practice in applied technology, efficiency and environmental sustainability,” it said.
According to the plan, the City owns three freehold lots that make up about 197ha of the total 1038ha industrial area, and LandCorp owns about 70 per cent with the City.
“The land is held in multiple ownerships,” it said.
“Some of the land is used for quarrying, intensive horticulture, recycling, power generation and manufacturing.”
The plan is due to go out for public consultation for 42 days this month. Visit www.wanneroo.wa.gov.au.
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