Work starts on Jindee coastal development after 14 years of planning

GROUNDWORK has started on a Jindalee development after more than 14 years of planning.

Fencing around a natural amphitheatre west of Marmion Avenue is the first sign of activity on Estates Development Company’s (EDC) Jindee development.

Touted to usher in a new era of coastal land development, EDC executive chair Fiona Roche praised the City of Wanneroo and the WA Planning Commission for embracing the vision for the 112ha site.

“Although right now it might look like any other land development, the end product is set to be radically different,” she said.

“The underlying principles of the way this coastal village has been designed, and will be built, are vastly different to the traditional approach you see in Perth’s northern beachside corridor.

“Jindee will be a place where we let the natural environment take the lead; rather than sending in the bulldozers to completely flatten the landscape to make it easy to place houses.

“The land on which Jindee will be built is shaped by an intriguing system of natural dunes running towards the coast, which then leads you gently down to sweeping white beaches and rugged rocky outcrops overlooking ocean reefs.

“As well as embracing the natural form of the land, we have thought long and hard about how we create a community.

“Jindee includes specific planning mechanisms that will encourage and foster a variety of buildings that cater for a wide cross section of the community.”

Ms Roche said front verandas, safer streets and pathways through fewer homes with double front garages, and more street trees were some of the features proposed.

She said the proposed development of a coastal village first arose in 2002 when architect and urban planner Andres Duany and his team of 12 came to Perth for a charrette with EDC, the City and state planners.

Ms Roche said the development design would reflect the coastal lifestyle of places such as Cottesloe, Fremantle and Rottnest Island.

“What we are seeking to do is far more than just clear land for housing, building roads and opening up land for commercial use,” she said.

“Jindee is all about building a community where the way in which the land is used, including the style and types of homes, is purposely designed to foster a village environment.

“What is planned within the 112ha of Jindee is a diversity of experiences that reflect different living styles and each of these subsections will be what Andres calls ‘ fully immersive environments’ each with a different atmosphere.

“The Jindee coastal village will be created to eventually meet the ocean in much the same way as Cottesloe meets the ocean.

“This will feel like an ocean-side village featuring a wide range of housing options and including restaurants and shops as well as apartments and town houses at its completion.

“There will be a natural living environment with large lots immersed in the natural environment on the ridgelines where roads will wind over the dunes and housing will nestle into hillside with panoramic views over the coast.”

Jindee will include about 900 residential lots and 1200 dwellings, close to district centres and the Butler train station.

Civil works on site started in mid-September with stage one blocks expected to go on sale early next year.