City of Greater Geraldton saves cottages for housing stock

The City of Greater Geraldton Council has voted to save four cottages from demolition in the hopes of adding affordable housing to the local market.

The City recently gained possession of five beach cottages at Point Moore, on Marines Lane, Gunners Lane, Sextant Lane and Monsoon Lane in the West End suburb through default of lease payments.

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CGG chief executive Ross McKim recommended in his report to the council that the four asbestos cottages with non-compliant septic tanks at risk of failure on Coastal Hazard Risk management land be demolished, with the fifth on Monsoon Lane the only brick structure to be re-let for 18 years in line with the expiry date of the majority of Point Moore cottage leases.

But at the council’s ordinary July meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Shane Van Styn put forward an amended motion for the four properties facing the wrecking ball to also have their leases opened for a further 18 years.

Since July 1 last year, 15 properties in the area have sold for between $55,000 and $115,000, with a median price of $85,000.

Cr Victor Tanti, who lives in a Point Moore cottage not adjacent to any of the properties in question, spoke to the motion, saying properties in the suburb were a great opportunity for a young family to have an affordable place to live.

“I’ve lived at Point Moore now for about 15 years and in that time I’ve seen some houses that look pretty ordinary transformed into nice places,” he said.

“There’s one ... which was run down, had a very messy front yard, wasn’t a very good-looking place but a fella’s moved in there, coat of paint, new fence, he’s mowed the lawn, he’s tidied the place up.

It’s affordable and while you’re paying it off, which you could do fairly quickly because they’re not expensive, you could save up for the dream home that you want.

“I’m very comfortable living where I live. It’s given me the chance to invest in other places and I think probably a number of young families who are looking for a starter home, Point Moore’s not a bad place to start.

“It’s affordable and while you’re paying it off, which you could do fairly quickly because they’re not expensive, you could save up for the dream home that you want.”

Mr Van Styn said because there was a shortage of affordable housing across Geraldton, community members should at least be given the opportunity to purchase the cottages.

“Let’s not just go around knocking over houses people might otherwise want to buy or actually need,” he said.

“If people wish to acquire them, lease them, then it’s also a revenue stream to the City both in lease fees and also in a bit of capital movement....In my experience a lot of these sell rapidly.”

The City will list the properties on the market for a maximum of six months “as-is”, with the buyers able to lease the land for 18 years, after which time it will have to be returned vacant.

If the properties are not sold, they will be demolished, with the cost of the demolition to come out of existing levy funds.

Any other cottages that fall into the City’s possession over the next three years will also be dealt with under the recommendation.

Cr Jerry Clune spoke against the motion, saying the City was delaying dealing with an issue to fill in a gap that was the responsibility of the State Government.

The motion was carried eight votes to two.