Shire of East Pilbara local planning scheme no. 4 - Notice of public advertisement of application for development approval
Published on Tuesday, 9 December 2025 at 12:01:00 AM
The Shire of East Pilbara has received an application to use and/or develop land for the following purpose and public comments are invited.
Posted: Wednesday 10th December 2025
Address: Unallocated Crown Land ID 3114610 (Australian Renewable Energy Hub).
Council Resolution:
At its meeting of 28th November 2025 (2025/279) Council resolved that:
- “The proposed development application for “Temporary Airfield” at Unallocated Crown Land ID 3114610 be considered as a “D” (discretionary) land use in accordance with Clause 3.3.2 of the Shire of East Pilbara Local Planning Scheme No. 4;
- Resolves that the proposed “Use Not Listed” development application for “Temporary Workforce Accommodation” at Unallocated Crown Land ID 3114610 may be consistent with the objectives of the “Rural” zone in accordance with Clause 3.4.2 of the Shire of East Pilbara Local Planning Scheme No. 4; and
- Requests the Chief Executive Officer to follow the advertising procedures of the Deemed Provisions found in Schedule 2 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 in considering the application for development approval.
Proposal: The proposed “Temporary Workforce Accommodation (Use Not Listed)” and “Temporary Airfield” are proposed in conjunction with the Australian Renewable Energy Hub (AREH). The AREH is a large area of vacant Unallocated Crown Land (UCL), identified for potential wind and solar energy production, which is intended to power the Pilbara region and beyond.
The proposed “Temporary Workforce Accommodation (Use not Listed)” and “Temporary Airfield” will accommodate 152 persons employed to undertake preliminary investigations and development associated with the initial stages of the project, with an operation period initially proposed for 3 to 4 years. A 10-year timeframe has been proposed for the ‘Temporary Workforce Accommodation’ and ‘Temporary Airfield’ uses, as a contingency to allow for any delays in research, studies, approvals and construction. The proposed “Temporary Airfield” is an existing airstrip, which is proposed to be recommissioned and used for Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) medical evacuation purposes only.
Location:
The AREH study area is located towards the northern extent of the Shire and occupies an area of approximately 6,500 km and is approximately 90km in length (north-south). The portion of this area proposed to be occupied by the “Temporary Workforce Accommodation” and “Temporary Airfield” is located approximately 30km south-west of the Nyangumarta Highway, 63km south of the Eighty Mile Beach coastal area and 160km north-east of Marble Bar. The proposal occupies a small portion of the overall AREH study area.
Details of the proposal are available to the public at the Shire of East Pilbara Administration Building, corner of Kalgan and Newman Drives, Newman or on the Shire’s website. The proposal is available for inspection in order to provide opportunity for public comment and it should not be construed that final approval will be granted.
Given the proposed “Temporary Workforce Accommodation” is a ‘Use Not Listed’ in the Shire’s ‘Rural’ zone of Local Planning Scheme No. 4, the application is required to be advertised for a minimum period of 28 days as per the provisions of Schedule 2, Clause 64(1)(a) of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations, 2015.
Submissions on the proposal must be made in writing, prior to the period ending Friday 16th January 2026.
Should you wish to make a submission on the proposed development, please forward your submission to the Chief Executive Officer, Shire of East Pilbara Administration Centre, cnr Kalgan and Newman Drives, Newman (or post to PMB 22 Newman WA 6753) or email [email protected].
Should you have any queries or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Shire’s Senior Planning Officer, Julie Quartermaine on (08) 9175 8000 or [email protected].