NXT Tec seeking Kwinana Council approval for concrete casting yard in Anketell on proposed school site

A company building sustainable homes is seeking council support to carry out construction works at an Anketell site earmarked for a primary school. Canning Vale-based NXT Tec has applied to the City of Kwinana for retrospective development approval for a concrete casting yard on Treeby Road in Anketell, so it can build tilt-up walls. A report to tonight’s council meeting said the company “delivers innovative dwelling design which uses concrete tilt panels to construct sustainable dwellings within a short period of time”. It said the 10.32ha vacant site was chosen because it was close to Anketell south and the Treeby Park estate, where NXT Tec will be delivering the panels for use in dwellings on multiple lots. According to the report, NXT Tec actually started using the site in mid-2023, without city approval, and stopped after receiving a directions notice to cease until it had an approved development application. NXT Tec is asking permission to host 12 casting bays with eight sea containers and associated dome shelters to cover facilities including a site office, 25,000-litre water tank and sewage holding tank on the site. However its request has drawn opposition from neighbours and there are questions over the right time frame any approval should be granted for, given the land will one day be required for a school. The report said the Treeby Road land was reserved for a future public primary school and the Department of Education was in favour of allowing conditional approval for a period of 12 months or until it required the school site. The company sought a three-year approval term but city staff have recommended approval for two years. “With the current development trends in the area, it is considered that development will start to encroach the site in two years time,” the report said. “Upon ceasing development, the site will be required to be remediated to its original state.” NXT Tec plans to operate Monday to Saturday from 7am to 5pm, with six employees. The city sought public feedback on the plans in late 2023 and received 20 submissions, 19 of which objected to the application mainly because of concerns about noise, dust, traffic and environmental impacts. Three out of four submissions located within one kilometre of the site objected and 15 objectors were from outside this area, with the report saying the latter would have “negligible impacts” from dust, noise and traffic. The report said the proposal was not considered to impact development of the local structure plan or surrounding properties in the short term and would “aid in delivering sustainable, affordable housing in the emerging Anketell urban cell”. Councillors will vote at tonight’s meeting on the recommendation to grant approval for two years subject to 18 conditions.