Residents, developers, investors camp out to secure blocks of land in Broome
Development WA released seven lots in Waranyjarri Estate. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
In short:
A number of people camped outside a real estate office in Western Australia's north to purchase land, highlighting demand for residential housing in Broome.
Development WA released seven blocks at Waranyjarri Estate in Broome North on a "first-come, first-served basis".
What's next?
The Shire of Broome president urged the state government to release more land to assist with housing shortages.
There were unusual scenes in a regional West Australian town this week as people camped outside a real estate office to secure blocks of land, highlighting the demand for residential housing.
On Tuesday morning, Development WA released seven vacant blocks at the Waranyjarri Estate in Broome through Ray White Real Estate with land strictly sold on a "first-come, first-served basis".
Blocks in the estate are being released progressively, and the latest sites were part of stage 13.
On its website, Development WA said priority would be given to buyers who attended the Ray White office in person, with the lots ranging from $280,000 to $450,000.
Lots in Waranyjarri Estate were sold on a "first-come, first-served" basis. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Residents queue for hours
Broome resident Paul McKenzie queued outside Ray White from 5pm on Monday afternoon, taking shifts with his partner until the office opened around 8:30am on Tuesday.
"We weren't going to come until about midnight, but got word there were people here at 5 o'clock," he said.
"I came down and took over the night shift, she did the morning shift, and I got the kids to school.
Paul McKenzie was one of a number of people who queued from Monday afternoon to secure a property. (ABC Kimberley: Dunja Karagic)
"The sprinklers came on, there were people riding push bikes, trucks going past, so not much sleep at all."
Having lived in Broome for 20 years, Mr McKenzie said he was surprised to have to camp out to secure property, having previously purchased blocks in the same estate.
"I think there are investors coming into town now because there is such a high rental demand," he said.
The ABC understands investors travelled to Broome from Perth to purchase a block.
After a long wait, Mr McKenzie said he was tired but relieved.
"It's a stepping stone for us," he said.
"We bought a property to put a duplex on there, so we will move into a duplex and step up in the property cycle. That's our plan."
Residential land is highly sought after in the Kimberley town of Broome. (ABC Kimberley: Vanessa Mills)
One successful buyer, who did not want to be named, told the ABC he also queued from 5pm to purchase the block he planned to live on.
"I walked across the road and got a pizza from [a pub]. [We] had a mozzie dome with a mattress in there, so we were all good," he said.
"I wasn't expecting to come that early, then I got a phone call saying there were people there already."
Call for more land releases
When complete, the Waranyjarri Estate expansion is expected to deliver close to 5,000 new homes.
Shire of Broome president Chris Mitchell said the fact that people were camping out for hours highlighted the demand for residential housing.
"There are a lot of people out there chasing a block of land so they can build a house on it — it's one of the things we have highlighted with the [state and federal] governments," he said.
"We need more land released and more affordable land released.
"It's a really hard situation when you have people queuing up for hours."
Chris Mitchell wants the state government to release more land in Broome. (ABC Kimberley: Andy Seabourne)
Mr Mitchell said he was urging the state government to release more land at once, and labelled the release of only seven blocks "disappointing".
"We're hoping they can be releasing 40 or 50 blocks at a time," he said.
"It seems ridiculous that they're not releasing a good amount of land.
"There's a shortfall of about 400-odd houses in Broome. We need more land released so we can actually get people living on those blocks."
In a statement, DevelopmentWA chief executive Dean Mudford said the team was working to quickly bring new land to market "as responsibly as possible".
"To help respond to this demand, a limited number of lots were pre-released ahead of titles being issued," Mr Mudford said.
"To assist in prioritising local participation, purchasers were required to attend the sales agent's office in person … DevelopmentWA has identified future opportunities for land release and is currently working through initial due diligence to progress these."