Two Rocks Marina redevelopment draws property buyers to the area

A recreational boating boom spurred by the pandemic is expected to boost sales at one of Perth’s biggest masterplanned communities under development. The boom, which coincides with a multi-million dollar investment by the State Government to upgrade Two Rocks Marina, has seen land sales spike at the nearby 6000-lot Atlantis Beach estate. Since the Department of Transport resumed operation of the facility in late 2014, almost $19 million has been spent upgrading Two Rocks Marina. A $3.1 million project to improve the southern foreshore area commenced in February. Atlantis Beach project director Jarrod Rendell believes the larger lots at the estate have become an affordable option for new boat owners who are keen to make use of the soon-to-be refurbished marina while parking their boats at home. “Land sales at Atlantis Beach have been exceptionally strong during 2022 and we expect this trend to continue into 2023 given the extensive marina upgrade and the Yanchep Train Station opening mid to late 2023 providing commuters a shorter travel time to Perth,” he said. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the value of housing approvals in Two Rocks tripled from $11.6 million in 2019/2020 to $35.2 million during the last financial year (2021/2022). Works on the Two Rocks Marina upgrade began earlier this year and will expand recreational boating infrastructure and incorporate a central tourism hub. “This major investment in the Two Rocks Marina comes at a time of a major recreational boating boom in Australia that followed the onset of the COVID pandemic,” Mr Rendell said. “New boat sales surged nationally by 14 per cent and used boat sales by 13 per cent during the last financial year. “Currently there are more than 100,000 registered recreational vessels owners in Western Australia, with recreational fishing alone bringing $2.4 billion into the local economy.” Mr Rendell has noticed first-hand during the past two years an increase in the number of property buyers at the estate who own recreational boats. “You drive up and down the streets and there are now a number of homes that have got boats parked in the driveway,” he said. “Through the pandemic, people couldn’t go away on holidays so they were looking for ways to relax locally and get out and enjoy some family time.” Boating Industry Association of WA president Sheryl Swarbrick said COVID had driven the boom in recreational boating and now there were not enough facilities in Perth to accommodate the surge in ownership. “To start off, when they first built the Coogee Marina, it wasn’t full and now it’s absolutely full. We need more facilities and this is why everyone that’s bought these boats are now buying in areas where they can just have them parked outside their house,” she said. “The marina that’s happening up there in Two Rocks is going to be amazing and a great place for people to actually take their boats and go for lunches and things like that — it’ll be a bit like a Hillarys,” she added. About 500 lots have been developed at Atlantis Estate during the past six years, with the 40ha development including planned public open spaces, a medical and childcare centre, and a K-12 school. “Since the late seventies, Two rocks has been, you a sleepy little seaside town and it still has all the charms of being a little seaside town that’s not necessarily just another piece of suburbia but it’s now starting to grow and get the critical mass of amenities that young families and downsizers want to see,” he said.