Brendan Grylls.
Camera IconBrendan Grylls. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Girrawheen: State Govt seeks developer for former Hainsworth Primary School site

Mark DonaldsonWanneroo Times

THE WA Government is looking for developers to build housing on the former Hainsworth Primary School site in Girrawheen.

The announcement comes as the Government fends off accusations from Labor that it has focussed too much on the CBD.

The Government will be hoping the plan promotes job growth in Girrawheen, which was recently revealed to have an unemployment rate of 25.1 per cent – the equal highest in Perth and among the highest for metro suburbs in Australia.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The Harford Way land has been vacant since 2010, with Girrawheen MLA Margaret Quirk, of Labor, having regularly criticised the Liberal-Nationals for not developing it sooner.

Residents had complained of anti-social behaviour at the abandoned buildings before they were demolished.

Fires in areas of overgrown grass were also a concern.

In a letter to the Times in 2013, Girrawheen resident Phil Torrisi wrote of his experience with “arson”.

“In the past two weeks there have been at least three deliberately lit,” he wrote.

“The most recent of these occurred on Thursday night and came frighteningly close to our property.

“The state of the site is unacceptable.”

Minister for Housing Brendan Grylls said the Government was seeking proposals for up to 160 homes on the 4.2ha site.

He expected works to begin in the middle of next year.

“The Hainsworth project presents an attractive commercial opportunity for private developers to showcase a contemporary, attractive infill development,” he said.

“It will provide a greater diversity of housing choice in Girrawheen, including modern contemporary apartments and semi-detached housing on small cottage lots.

“The design will also incorporate existing native vegetation to preserve some of the larger established trees.”

Submissions for the contract close on September 29.