SUELLEN JERRARD

The sleepy town of Boddington, 130km south-east of Perth, is experiencing a modern-day gold rush as it prepares to host what will be Australia's biggest gold mine. Property prices have skyrocketed, vacant land has been snapped up and confidence in the area is at an all-time high as the owners of the Boddington Gold Mine finalise their plans to spend $1.8 billion reopening and expanding the project.

Since the mine was closed in 2001, gold prices have soared and a final decision is due within a fortnight. But detailed planning is already under way to accommodate a construction workforce of 1000 at a camp on the outskirts of Boddington. During the two-year construction phase, it is estimated $39 million could be injected into the Peel region and $410 million into the WA economy. During its 15-year life, the mine is expected to add $550 million to the Peel economy and $770 million State-wide.

It is predicted another 300 homes will be needed in Boddington to house up to 60 per cent of the 650 permanent workers needed at the mine from 2008. The rest are expected to travel from as far away as Perth and Mandurah. Boddington Shire chief executive Peter Bradbrook said serious infrastructure shortfalls had to be fixed if the town was to cope with the predicted doubling of its population of 1000.

Further housing development could not take place until there was an upgrade of the water supply and the infill sewerage program was brought forward. Mr Bradbrook said these and other needs would be included in a submission to State Cabinet. The area was also seeking a new medical centre, an indoor recreation centre, assistance to attract and house support staff, along with plant and equipment.

Peel Development Commission chief executive Maree De Lacey said the organisation had briefed new Peel Minister Norm Marlborough on the issue this week. Boddington real estate agents say house prices have skyrocketed in the past six months and they are fielding endless calls from investors and prospective employees. There has also been a flow on to surrounding towns.

Lisa Carrotts, from CRT Rural and Metro Realty, said a year ago four-bedroom, two-bathroom homes were selling in Boddington for about $140,000. Today they were more than $300,000. Two years ago she had up to 30 listings, she now has one. Ms Carrotts and husband Paul, the deputy shire president, are about to start work on a four-unit retail development, the first of its kind in the quiet main street.

Next door, a new post office is about to be built while the local hardware store has doubled its floor space. "Everyone in business here is getting a bit excited and hoping to get a slice of the cake," Cr Carrotts said. As a local of 45 years, Cr Carrotts described it as an exciting time for Boddington. We have been waiting nearly six years for this," he said. "They have done a couple of studies but this is the best one."

US gold giant Newmont this week bought out Newcrest Mining's share in the mine for $225 million.
Newmont now holds two-thirds of the mine and AngloGold Ashanti one-third. If the final go-ahead is given on February 27, Boddington could rank alongside Newcrest's Telfer gold mine in the Pilbara as Australia's biggest, producing almost a million ounces of gold and 32,000 tonnes of copper a year.