THE  Latitude 32 industrial estate in Cockburn’s south is turning into a dud.

With mining off the boil and the Barnett government scratching its head for alternatives, the development is years behind schedule.

Just 10 lots have been sold from the first 91-hectare tranche  released back in 2010. It was supposed to be built out by the end of 2018.

Another 28 hectares centred around Power Avenue in Wattleup were supposed to be filled by the end of next year, but only a half-dozen sites have been taken up.

And a further 100-plus hectares planned to be full by 2020 are virtually vacant.

• WA Labor leader Mark McGowan with Baldivis candidate Reece Whitby and Cockburn MLA Fran Logan at the still-empty Latitude 32 site. Photo by Steve Grant

Kicked out

In the late 90s, the Court government kicked out families from 360 homes in the emerging Hope Valley and Wattleup communities to make way for Latitude 32.

All up it’s supposed to free up about 1500 hectares of land for industrial development, including a bank to last 30 years, and provide up to 10,000 jobs.

In a sign of how WA’s economic fortunes have waned since Latitude 32’s inception, back in 2010 the Property Council of WA warned the first release of land wouldn’t meet demand.

“We’re saying [the release is] a good response, but if you’re going to get the first couple of hundred hectares ready for the short term, you better start cracking the whip now,” property council executive director Joe Lenzo said at the time.

Labor leader Mark McGowan says one of the factors holding back the industrial estate is red tape.

Last Friday he announced that the Australian Marine Complex and surrounding Latitude 32 lands would be bought under a single department if Labor wins power at next February’s state election.

Mr McGowan says foreign investors are being frightened off by having to deal with six separate departments which have some control over the area.

“The Department of Transport, LandCorp, Commerce, WaterCorp, Fremantle Ports and the City of Cockburn,” Cockburn MLA Fran Logan helpfully reels off.

“We will create an industrial estate that attracts investment in key industries such as defence manufacturing, processing, oil and gas and other marine industries,” Mr McGowan said.

The Opposition leader says it’s part of the party’s strategy to focus on creating jobs.

Figures from the Department of Employment show that in February nearly all the suburbs surrounding the proposed technology park had slight rises in unemployment levels, bucking Perth’s slight drop.

Jandakot’s rate went from 1.9 to 2.3%, Banjup from 2.9 to 3.6% and Success/Hammond Park from 3 to 3.4%.

In comparison Hamilton Hill, Spearwood and Fremantle all had slightly improved unemployment rates, but in what could be an indicator of more pain to come, the Herald noted three desperate signs outside homes on Phoenix Road seeking work for families with mortgages.

Directly across the road, the block of flats is almost obscured by a row of “For Sale” and “For Rent” signs.

by STEVE GRANT