Minister says Perth barracks sale will not mean bulldozers for heritage sites

Defence Minister Richard Marles says the planned sale of Perth's Irwin and Leeuwin barracks will not see the sites bulldozed for housing. Both sites are in desirable residential areas but are protected by heritage overlays, which will limit how far they can be developed. What's next? The sites will be remediated and prepared before they are transferred to the department of finance to be sold. The planned sale of Perth's Irwin and Leeuwin barracks will free up land in highly desirable suburbs but developers will not have free rein to bulldoze the sites for housing, defence minister Richard Marles has said. Speaking to Nadia Mitsopoulos on 102.5 ABC Perth, Mr Marles also said the sales were still some way off and would not proceed until the cadets and army reservists who currently use the sites had transitioned to an alternative site. "This whole exercise is making sure that our Defence estate is more fit for purpose for what Defence does," he said. "In respect of [Leeuwin and Irwin barracks], what we are thinking mostly about is both reserves and cadets here in Perth and making sure that the outcome here … is better sites. "That it is ultimately a better outcome for our reservists and for our cadets. "A lot of the activity that is undertaken by cadets and reserves now, and this would include in respect of these two sites, is happening on old sites which are really not that fit for purpose for what they're doing." Mr Marles also said the Defence department was working closely with the WA RSL branch to consult on the move of some activity to Palmer Barracks in South Guildford. Both Irwin and Leeuwin barracks occupy substantial amounts of land in highly desirable residential areas. Irwin Barracks covers 61.5 hectares in the heart of Perth's affluent western suburbs, while Leeuwin occupies 14 hectares on the Swan riverfront at East Fremantle. Both sites require some remediation and preparation before they will be transferred to the Department of Finance, which will handle the sale. While he could not say whether any expressions of interest had been received or how much the sites may be worth, Mr Marles said both sites were protected by heritage overlays, which would limit how far they could be developed. "They are protected by law and they will be protected by law," he said. "None of these sites are going to be bulldozed. "In fact, I think what will happen with a lot of these heritage sites is that they will be opened up to the public much more and people will be able to enjoy them." ABC Perth in your inbox Get local news, stories, community events, recipes and more each fortnight.