Kemerton Industrial Park Strategy Plan

Planning for the development of the Kemerton Industrial Park (KIP) is a critical part of the State Government’s infrastructure strategy. With the limited buffered land for processing resources in the southern part of the State, the KIP is set to become the State’s next, near-metropolitan project ready estate.

The KIP, located 17 kilometres north east of Bunbury and close to Leschenault Inlet, was established in 1985 specifically for resource processing industry. The KIP will provide for downstream processing and value-adding to the South West region’s extensive primary resources, especially its substantial mineral resources, for both export and domestic markets.

Situated just 160 kilometres south of Perth and connected by two highways, the KIP is accessible to the metropolitan area and the Western Tradecoast, which already have some industrial synergies with the KIP. Importantly, the KIP is accessible to the Port of Bunbury by road and the planned rail link.

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A number of studies and investigations have been undertaken in the last 20 years as part of the initial establishment and subsequent expansion of the KIP.

In April 2000, the State Government adopted a report entitled Industry 2030 – Greater Bunbury Industrial Land and Port Access Planning (Western Australian Planning Commission, 2000), which included a Final Concept Plan for the expansion of the KIP. Later that year, the Western Australian Planning Commission also reflected the expanded KIP in the draft Greater Bunbury Region Scheme (2000).

Following on from these planning initiatives and drawing on the outcome of preceding studies of the KIP, a Strategy Plan has been developed to:

• Draw together the key elements of previous environmental and infrastructure studies undertaken for the KIP into a single strategy for development of the park
• Address constraints and opportunities affecting the KIP to produce a draft development plan for the park
• Position the estate as a modern industrial park incorporating the buffer and industrial core established by earlier environmental and planning studies
• Provide a basis for amendment of the Shire of Harvey District Planning Scheme and for informing a Structure Plan to accompany such amendment

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Preparation of the Strategy Plan was coordinated by LandCorp and the Department of Industry and Resources, with The Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the Shire of Harvey being represented on the steering committee.

In late 2005, Thompson McRobert Edgeloe, Coffey Environments and William James Landscape Architect were engaged to conduct the necessary investigations and liaison leading to compilation of the Strategy Plan.  In the course of this work, the team conducted a community workshop to focus on landscape issues associated with development of the KIP.  It also liaised with key stakeholder groups including the Kemerton Industrial Park Coordinating Committee and the Kemerton Community Committee.

When a preliminary draft had been completed, this was referred for consideration and improvement to a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) comprising representatives of the following organisations:

• LandCorp (Joint Chair)
• Department of Industry and Resources (Joint Chair)
• Shire of Harvey
• Department for Planning and Infrastructure
• Department of Agriculture and Food
• Department of Environment and Conservation
• Department of Health
• Department of Water
• Main Roads WA
• South West Development Commission
• Water Corporation
• Synergy

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The Minister for Industry and Resources released the draft Strategy Plan in November 2007, inviting input from the community. 

A community briefing was held on the Kemerton Industrial Park Strategy Plan (Draft) on 6 February 2008 at Australind. A summary of the briefing and the questions and answers raised at the briefing, can be downloaded below.

Kemerton Industrial Park Strategy Plan: Community Briefing (PDF 1.6Mb)

The four month public comment period closed on 31 March 2008.

All comments are currently being considered and the draft Strategy Plan is being reviewed and refined.

A summary of comments received will be published on this website when reviewing of the draft Strategy Plan has been completed.

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The next steps in the finalisation and implementation of the KIP Strategy Plan are provided below:

1. Assess comments, make modifications if needed
2. Strategy Plan finalised and endorsed
3. Prepare statutory Structure Plan
4. Amend Shire of Harvey Town Planning Scheme and Greater Bunbury Region Scheme
5. Further research conducted on environmental and other aspects
6. Approval of each individual industry for inclusion in KIP

Please note: Community consultation will be included in undertaking each of the above steps.

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