Bid to Axe Social Homes from 1270-Lot Karratha Scheme Wins Few Fans

A call by a city councillor to excise social housing from a 1270-lot federally funded subdivision at an engine room of the national economy has received a cool reception despite the spectre of vigilante action being raised. A notice of motion tabled by City of Karratha councillor Brenton Johannsen (pictured above) proposes that the municipality in Western Australia’s iron and gas-rich Pilbara region move to axe planned social housing from the publicly funded Mulataga residential development. “Mulataga has the potential to become a highly desirable new coastal residential community for Karratha,” Johannsen’s motion, titled Save Mulataga, said. “However, concerns continue to be raised by residents regarding the management of existing social housing properties, including antisocial behaviour, property neglect, repeated disturbances and the impact these issues can have on neighbouring residents. “Before additional social housing properties are introduced into new residential estates, it is reasonable for the state government to demonstrate that existing problem tenancies and properties can be effectively managed.” According to the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, of Australia’s 543 local government areas in 2025, Karratha produced the eighth highest gross product—$35.6 billion. The city trailed only the adjoining shire of Ashburton ($42.7 billion), Brisbane ($188.5 billion), Sydney ($170.6 billion), Melbourne ($138.5 billion), Perth ($61.7 billion), the Australian Capital Territory ($58.8 billion) and the Gold Coast ($55.2 billion). The city’s administration has said the 1270-lot Mulataga subdivision, to abut the Indian Ocean and the eastern edge of Karratha, would help address an ongoing housing shortage in the remote economic powerhouse. Housing fundamental to economic development After construction began at Mulataga this month, Karratha mayor Daniel Scott said unlocking housing was fundamental to securing Karratha’s economic future. “Without housing, we cannot attract and retain the workers we need to support our businesses, industry and essential services, and we cannot realise the full economic potential of our region,” Scott said. ▲ Karratha mayor Daniel Scott said more housing was crucial for the city’s economic development. Stage 1 of the subdivision, to comprise 130 lots, will receive $22.1 million from the Commonwealth’s housing support program and $43.2 million committed in this year’s Western Australian Budget. Marketing material for Mulataga says the suburb “includes land allocations for social housing and Traditional Owners, as required by government policy and existing agreements”. ‘One step in a multi-faceted solution’ At a briefing session on September 21, city chief executive Virginia Miltrup confirmed her administration would not support Johannsen’s motion. “As it stands, this is actually inconsistent to work that we’ve already done in terms of the development at Mulataga,” she said. “But, more importantly, [the motion also cuts across] the broader advocacy that we’ve been doing around housing and the full suite of housing solutions that the city requires.” At the session, city councillor Tony Simpson (a onetime Liberal local government minister in the former administration of Colin Barnett) asked Johannsen if assisting services that were trying to resolve problems at some social houses could be included in his motion. “This is a bit of an awkward one for us because, in reality, if any developer came to us to develop land there’s a process to follow,” he said. “I don’t think we can dictate what [the land] is used for.” Johannsen said his motion was “just one step of a multi-faceted solution”. “But, you know, if you’re not going to start something, things aren’t going to change,” he said. Vigilante groups In another motion tabled at the briefing session and not supported by the administration, Johannsen proposed nine more measures to address public safety and problem properties. “If we don’t do something about it soon, it’s going to be at the point of vigilante groups,” he said. In their report on Johannsen’s Mulataga motion, city staff acknowledged public concerns about antisocial behaviour and the management of individual properties. “However, [the] administration does not consider that these concerns provide a reasonable basis to advocate for the removal of social housing from the Mulataga residential development,” the report said. “The title Save Mulataga presupposes that the inclusion of social housing represents a threat to the development. “[The] administration does not accept that premise.” The staff said social housing accommodated a range of community members, including people who may be unable to secure accommodation in Karratha’s high-cost private housing market. “Removing social housing from a new residential development does not address deficiencies in the management of existing problem tenancies,” they said. “The proposed approach would also risk conflating the behaviour of a relatively small number of problematic tenants with the much broader cohort of people who require social housing. “A person’s need for housing assistance is not, of itself, an indicator that they will adversely affect neighbouring residents or community amenity.” ‘Vast majority of social homes without incident’ A spokesperson for the WA Government said there was significant demand for all forms of housing in Karratha, including social and affordable homes. “Social housing provides vital support to the most vulnerable people in our community, including the elderly, people with disability, victims of family and domestic violence and single parents,” they told The Urban Developer . “There are over 45,000 social housing tenancies across Western Australia, the vast majority of which are observed without incident.” At the 2022 Federal election, as the One Nation candidate, Johannsen polled 6.9 per cent of the primary vote for the division of Durack, which is Australia’s largest electorate by area. His motions are due to be considered by the council when it next meets on September 28.

Land & Communities
Chris Thomson
Fri 25 Sep 26

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