Western Australia has taken another step toward easing regional housing pressure, announcing the release of underutilised Government-owned land in Exmouth for a mixed-use development that will introduce new homes, retail space and a much-needed supermarket to the town centre.
The project forms part of the Cook Government’s Housing Diversity Pipeline, a program designed to convert dormant or constrained state-owned parcels into shovel-ready opportunities. The Exmouth release is the latest in a series of sites identified for redevelopment across WA as the State attempts to boost supply in markets where demand continues to outstrip available housing.
Turning underutilised land into real housing outcomes
Under the plan, Two Oceans Pty Ltd will deliver 12 new residential apartments alongside retail tenancies, alfresco areas and more than 60 parking bays on Maidstone Crescent. The centrepiece will be a new large-format supermarket, giving local residents greater access to essential services while supporting the town’s economic activity.
The development’s location adjacent to Federation Park allows for a design that prioritises open space and amenity. The apartments will feature terrace gardens or balconies overlooking the park, signalling a shift toward higher-quality, self-contained living options in a region where rental scarcity and limited new supply have constrained population growth.
Construction is expected to commence by mid-2027, following the planning and procurement phases.
Why this matters for industry
While modest in size, the Exmouth project points to a broader structural effort across WA to make more government land work harder. For industry, this signals three important shifts:
1. A clearer pipeline of upcoming development opportunities
The Housing Diversity Pipeline is increasingly becoming a forward indicator of where future work may emerge. The State has more than 1,000 potential dwellings currently in negotiation across various sites, creating visibility for construction, civil and services providers.
2. Regional markets are being prioritised
Much of WA’s recent construction activity has concentrated in Perth and the South West. Exmouth’s inclusion highlights a desire to rebalance supply and ensure regional centres receive the housing and commercial investment required to support tourism, workforce attraction and long-term economic resilience.
3. Mixed-use projects as a new norm
Instead of single-purpose land releases, WA is leaning into models that combine homes, commercial offerings and public amenity. This creates diverse scopes of work and opportunities for builders, subcontractors and consultants to be part of more integrated precinct-style developments.
A growing program with state-wide implications
The Cook Government has committed a record $5.8 billion to housing and homelessness measures. Beyond Exmouth, several other HDP sites are now on the market, including four in Perth and the South West. Each site differs in scale and zoning opportunity, but all share the same objective: add more homes, faster, in locations where demand remains persistent.
Planning and Lands Minister John Carey said the program demonstrates the Government’s commitment to activating underperforming land assets.
“This release of land in Exmouth will provide more homes, a new supermarket and other retail offerings for the local community,” Carey said. “Our Government has worked extensively to overcome constraints on underutilised land to deliver housing in regional WA.”
For a construction sector seeking stability after several volatile years, the continuing rollout of HDP sites offers a clearer horizon of future work and a more predictable rhythm of development opportunities.
The road ahead
The Exmouth redevelopment will not solve regional housing pressure on its own, but it reflects a wider momentum across WA to use state-owned assets as a lever for increasing supply. With active negotiations underway for more than 1,000 additional dwellings, the industry can expect further releases as feasibility studies are completed and proponents are confirmed.
As the 2027 construction start approaches, attention will turn to detailed design, procurement pathways, sustainability requirements and the collaborative opportunities that mixed-use precincts unlock.
For now, the message from Government is clear: underutilised land is back on the table, and more of it is being fast-tracked into development-ready projects.
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