A new sand mine has been proposed in Mariginiup to extract up to 160,000 cubic metres of sand to prepare land for about 1500 future homes in the East Wanneroo development area.
A new sand mine is being proposed for Mariginiup along Neaves Road, with plans to extract up to 160,000 cubic metres of sand to help prepare land for future homes in the East Wanneroo development area.
The development is being led by Parcel Properties, which plans to deliver about 1500 lots in the suburb.
The proposed development seeks approval for 24 months, although the sand extraction works are anticipated to take about 26 weeks.
The site would operate from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and from 7am to midday on Saturdays.
The developers plan to stockpile the extracted sand on adjoining land to the west, which will be subject to a separate development application.
As a result, no external truck movements on to Neaves Road are expected as part of the proposal at this stage.
Camera IconDesign plans for the proposed sand mine. Credit: Supplied
In the application, developers said the sand would be extracted to a maximum depth of about 4.4m, with no imported fill proposed as part of the works.
“The proposed sand extraction will provide fill to support development within the adjacent precinct 16 structure plan area, identified for residential use under the East Wanneroo district structure plan,” the application said.
“The finished levels are also designed to integrate with surrounding land, facilitating the efficient delivery of the future Whiteman-Yanchep Highway.”
Although the vacant site at 350 Neaves Road has a history of agricultural use, it is not without wildlife, with surveys finding evidence of black cockatoos feeding in the area.
Camera IconThe site of the proposed sand mine along Neaves Road in Mariginiup. Credit: GoogleMaps
A 2025 biological survey identified 4.74ha of suitable foraging habitat for Carnaby’s black cockatoos and 4.01ha for forest red-tailed black cockatoos, with 45 potential breeding trees also recorded on the site.
It also found chewed Banksia cones, providing evidence of Carnaby’s black cockatoos feeding in the area.
No threatened or priority plant species were identified during the survey.
Despite the cockatoo findings, most of the site was classified as completely degraded because of previous agricultural grazing.
Public consultation on the proposal closed on August 14, with the City of Wanneroo administration now assessing the application before a decision is made.