URBAN WILDLIFE CORRIDORS WORKSHOP
VALLEY VERGES will hold a one day intensive workshop this Saturday, May 18, about Habitat Structures for Urban Wildlife Corridors.
The workshop is held on the corner of Minilya Avenue and Stevens Street in White Gum Valley from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Waking up to the sounds of birds is a wonderful start of the day.
Roel Loopers
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF LOIS OLNEY
Early notice that a memorial farewell event will be held at Kidogo Arthouse, for the wonderful late LOIS OLNEY.
It is on Friday May 31 from 5-10pm. All are welcome to celebrate the life of this great singer and delightful human being.
Roel Loopers
MORE LIGHTS FOR WILLIAM STREET
The City of Fremantle has assured me that more lights will be installed shortly along William Street. It is a Western Power project, paid for by the City of Fremantle.
All the old power poles, that are no longer on the grid, will be removed soon, and that includes the pole that has three floodlights on it, that used to light up the Townhall. Does that mean the beautiful heritage building will no longer be lit up at night? That would be a shame.
The reason the streetlights at William Street do not have the same backlights as the ones on Adelaide Street, is that the City wants to be able to add softer light there in the future, in case of new alfresco activation there.
Roel Loopers
LOOPY’S FREMANTLE TOWNHALL
My Loopy, arty impression of the historic Fremantle Townhall. It’s the reflection on the windscreen of a car parked in William Street.
Roel Loopers
WHY DIFFERENT NEW STREET LIGHTS?
New street lights have finally been installed around Freo’s Walyalup Koort, at Queen, Adelaide, and William streets, but I wonder why there are two different kinds.
The lights along Adelaide Street have backlights for the footpath, but the ones in William Street don’t have that feature. Why not?
There are only three new lights along William Street. The last one is in front of the Good Sammy shop, but there is no indication, and no work going on, that there will be more lights installed from the Federal Hotel to Henderson Street, and I wonder why that is.
Also, two of the floodlights for the Townhall are facing down, so could the City of Fremantle please adjust them and let them light up the beautiful old building at night. Mille grazie!
Roel Loopers
DAMAGED ART NEGLECT NOT VERY FREO!
What is the City of Fremantle going to do with the large broken stone sculpture, created by Arthur Kalamaras at Bathers Beach?
The artwork was damaged late last year, when CoF staff tried to relocate it to make space for the Fremantle Biennale, and it broke up into four pieces.
The family of the artist, who had his studio in J Shed, wants the City of Fremantle to repair and reinstall the piece, but the CoF claims that Arthur Kalamaras never received permission to put the stone work in the public realm. That might well be the case, but leaving the broken pieces is very disrespectful to the artist, so a solution needs to be found.
I assume the Biennale had a large public liability cover, so the damage to the Kalamaras work might well be covered by the insurance and would cost the City nothing to repair.
Freo is the City of Arts, so get a move on please!
Roel Loopers
PHOTOS OF REVEALED ABORIGINAL EXHIBITION
Some photos I took on Saturday morning of the market and REVEALED Aboriginal art exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre. It’s a great show, so go have a look!
Around 150 artworks, created by some 70 artists from remote WA communities are on display. Proceeds from the exhibition are returned 100 per cent to the artists and communities.
The first REVEALED was at the FAC in 2008, so it has become a great tradition, that will hopefully continue for a very long time.
Roel Loopers
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Wishing all those marvelous mothers and their families a very happy Mother’s Day!
May the kids spoil you rotten and the weather be kind.
Roel Loopers
GO VISIT FREO’S FIRST CAKERY!
AUNTY LUCY’S CAKERY in TumTum Tree Lane is Freo’s first cakery, so make sure to go and try it out. It opened today and is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 9am to 4pm.
The cafe is near the corner of High and Queen streets, opposite the D’Angelo cafe, and just a few metres east of Walyalup Koort and the civic centre.
Roel Loopers
EVEN BABIES LOVE THE REVEALED ART SHOW!
The annual REVEALED Aboriginal art exhibition opened at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Thursday evening, so make sure to go and see it.
The art market is on all day today and also well worth a visit. All proceeds will go 100% to the artists and art communities, so support them and buy some wonderful art. The baby above was clearly impressed.
More photos of REVEALED tomorrow morning here on Freoview!
Roel Loopers
PEACEFUL TRANQUILITY INSTEAD OF STORM
Instead of a storm and heavy rain, Freo was peaceful tranquility just after sunrise this morning. Anglers floating on the Indian Ocean, and six people canoeing, while the early sun highlighted the hulls of container ships at North Quay.
Good old Freo, hey! What is there not to love!
Roel Loopers
SOUTH MOLE OPEN FOR A RELAXING STROLL
Fremantle Ports has re-opened the South Mole, but only for pedestrians and cyclists. It was lovely relaxing just after sunrise this morning.
I bumped into art teacher Orion Harvey from Bayswater, who was taking photos for his Humans of WAter project. You can find it on Facebook and Instagram.
Freo local Justin, who walks the mole every morning, loved it without all the campervans and cars. He suggested a food van could make it a destination, e.g. Mexican on the Mole. That made me think of the East Street jetty Thursday night small food market, where 5-6 foodies got together. It was very popular, so if the South Mole remains closed, Fremantle Ports might want to contemplate that idea.
As the above photo shows, a lot of campervans were parked on the North Mole on this Saturday morning, and still nine of them at Fleet Street near the Bathers Beach A Class reserve.
Roel Loopers
ARTWALK FREMANTLE IN WHITE GUM VALLEY
ARTWALK FREMANTLE is in White Gum Valley this weekend.
Go visit artists in their studios and studio homes this Saturday and Sunday. See above for details.
Roel Loopers
BUDGET FUNDING FOR BURT STREET DEVELOPMENT
It appears that there finally will be commencement of construction of the $ 90 million residential development at Fremantle’s Burt Street, just up the hill from the Fremantle Arts Centre, and on the border with East Fremantle.
$ 35 million has been set aside in yesterday’s WA Government’s budget for the development, so let’s hope they will be starting on it soon.
Roel Loopers
MANJAREE VIEW OF FREMANTLE PORT
While up at the 10th anniversary of the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre on top of Manjaree/Arthur’s Head, I took this long shot of Fremantle Port with the statue of C.Y. O’Connnor in the foreground.
Roel Loopers
WALYALUP ABORIGINAL CULTURAL CENTRE CELEBRATES 10th ANNIVERSARY
The City of Fremantle Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary on Manjaree/Arthur’s Head today.
It was as always one of those relaxed multicultural gatherings, that shows we have come a long way on our reconciliation journey here in Freo.
I well remember the opening of the centre by then Mayor Brad Pettitt a decade ago, and we still have a long way to go. Mutual respect will achieve that.
Roel Loopers
ARTS AND LEISURE CENTRE CAFES DELAYED
The estimated re-opening of the cafes at the Fremantle Arts Centre and Fremantle Leisure Centre was for mid May, but the City of Fremantle have informed me that there has been a delay, due to kitchen equipment not arriving as scheduled. The cafes are now due to open mid June.
Roel Loopers
MANIFESTOS SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE AND VISIONARY
Below my-slightly altered- Roel’s Round column in the Fremantle Herald this week:
I was disappointed with the Manifesto the Fremantle Society published in the Fremantle Herald last week. I thought it was very light on and lacked innovative suggestions for the future of Fremantle. A manifesto should be comprehensive and visionary. It is not good enough to say you don’t want taller buildings in the West End, on Victoria Quay, and the old town, whatever the latter means, and that “The location of taller new development should go elsewhere in Fremantle” But where? Why not specify it? That’s what a big picture manifesto should be doing.
Fremantle Council approved Planning Scheme Amendment 49 about ten years ago, targeting 13 CBD sites for substantial development. Which locations in Fremantle are suitable to taller buildings of 6-12 storeys, according to the Society? Where can we create the necessary urban infill to build many more homes, and make serious inroads into the current housing and rental crisis? Where are the boundaries of the “old town” does it stop at Parry Street, or Point Street, or even further east at James Street?
I absolutely agree that high-rise in the West End is not on, and would also not like to see that on Victoria Quay, but the Fremantle Society is on record of opposing in the past two six-storey bookmark buildings at either side of Victoria Quay, so they do not approve of medium-rise at the port either.
The Fremantle Society opposed the Little Lane eight-storey medium-rise apartment building next to Target, and also expressed opposition to the eight-storey medium-rise residential plans by Sirona Urban for the Point Street carpark site. The Society should be clear what they mean when they say they oppose taller buildings, when they also are against medium-rise in the inner city. What does the Society believe is acceptable building height for our inner city?
There is little doubt in my mind that Hesperia will want to add a few storeys when they develop the Elders woolstores opposite Clancy’s. The renders of the current Coles woolstores development, by Silverleaf Investments, also indicate they might want to construct a building, or buildings, higher than ten storeys behind the current development, so Fremantle will have to get used to taller buildings in the inner city.
I do agree with the Manifesto that the WA Government should create a Fremantle Redevelopment Authority, because the huge port precinct development, when the working port moves to Kwinana, is so significant for our city that is demands cohesive, excellent and long-term planning, where housing diversity should be a priority. The redevelopment authority (EPRA) worked very well in East Perth, where they created well designed buildings and streetscape and a real community lifestyle.
No one wants to see only tall concrete boxes. For example the large Point Street residential development would for me ideally have a beautiful streetscape off 2-4 storey townhouses along Adelaide Street, and maybe duplicate that along Cantonment Street. The eight-storey apartment building could rise up behind the terrace houses. Ground level retail is not necessarily good, as shops close at 5pm and create dark streets.
What I was hoping to get from the Manifesto is ideas, instead of only saying what the Fremantle Society opposes. For example, the Manifesto states that housing is not good for the Fremantle Oval development, and I wonder why that is. Why not, and what does the Fremantle Society suggests should be developed there? We desperately need more people living in the inner city.
I would love to see Fremantle Oval become a real community space, a place where people can gather, even when there are no music or sports events on. A kind of parkland, with some medium-rise apartment buildings of up to 6-7 storeys, a modern gym, a nice cafe/bar, and a 24/7 activation. Could Fremantle Oval diversify and also cater for other sports, such as athletics, by creating a running track around the oval, where there was a cycling track in the past?
Substantial development in the Fremantle CBD is not only inevitable, it is desirable, and we need to lose that fear of taller buildings. What we have to demand is excellence, innovation, and creativity in architecture. We need new iconic buildings, that will become the heritage of the future. Our city needs to grow to prosper.
Roel Loopers
SAN CHURRO TAKES OVER DOME LOCATION
Many people have asked me about it, so here an update about the long-vacant former Dome cafe premises on the Cappuccino Strip.
The lease for a new cafe was signed late last year, and plans for the fit out have just been lodged with the City of Fremantle. San Churro is expecting to start the renovations in the next couple of months, so we’ll hopefully see that prime corner location activated again by the start of summer.
Roel Loopers
AUSTRALIA HOTEL UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
I am glad to hear that the Australia Hotel, on the corner of Beach and Parry streets, reopened yesterday under new management.
I’ll go try it out soon.
Roel Loopers
HILTON PRECINCT SOCIAL & CULTURAL SUBCOMMITTEE
The Hilton Precinct group invites local to attend a meeting on May 10 and 25, to plan a Social & Cultural Subcommittee.
The meetings are at Meerilinga, 85 Rennie Crescent on Friday May 10 at 6pm and on Saturday May 25 at 11.30am.
Roel Loopers
FREO COMBANK REDUCES STREET ATMs
The above photo goes well with the cashless society article I published this morning. When BankWest announced the closure of many suburban and country branches a few weeks ago, they stated that their customers would be looked after by the Commonwealth Bank.
So above is a photo of the newly refurbished Fremantle Queen Street branch of the ComBank, and guess what? They reduced their street ATMs from three to just a single one.
Great service ComBank. Why give a damn about your customers, hey!
Roel Loopers
CASHLESS SOCIETY NOT SUPPORTED
I don’t know where the calls for a cashless society come from, but do believe that the calls for it are unrealistic and ignore the fact that ATMs and point of sales card machines fail more often than is reported.
Last year in Melbourne hundreds of cafes and shops had to close when one of the banks had a major breakdown. Point of sale machines no longer worked and people could not get cash at ATMs either. Where do you go from there as a business? Many thousands of dollars in sales were lost to small businesses, staff were sent home, so they too missed out on income, and motorists who had filled up their car with fuel could not pay, so that was a nightmare for service stations and their customers.
Although banks are making huge profits, BankWest have announced the closure of many branches. I assume they expect their customers to call and wait in long queues, or go online. Methods many older people do not like, as they prefer face to face communication with bank staff.
The conspiracy nonsense that the Albanese government wants a cashless society had been refuted by Michelle Bullock, the chairperson of the Reserve Bank, who said that they want to continue with a cash economy, and make sure that people have access to cash.
It is also interesting to note that cash is a legal tender, so it can’t really be refused by traders as payment, no matter what they prefer. Believe it or not, there are still people who do not have a credit or debit card, so how else would they pay?
Not all small businesses prefer card payments. I know one newsagency in Fremantle who hates it when people pay for the daily newspaper with a credit or debit card, because the fees they pay mean that they are hardly making any money out of selling the rag.
There is also often a cost for card users, as many traders pass on the cost of card transactions. I use a debit card, but in many places a credit card surcharge is added, when I buy a drink or meal in one of Freo’s pub. I don’t believe it is ethical to put a surcharge on a debit card sale, as it is basically an EFTPOS sale with straight transaction into the accounts of the traders, but what can I do about it, but go and try somewhere else?
A cashless society would also impact on buskers and beggars, because it is unlikely that people will be inclined, and have the patience, to line up after a performance and pay a few dollars on their cards, instead of throwing coins in a hat or a bag, to thank the buskers for their great entertainment.
But not to have a cash float and having to count the money and deposit it at an ATM at the end of the working day would be beneficial for cafes, and point of sale cashless payments make takeaway transactions just a bit faster. There is also less chance of theft by staff, and management has an immediate record of the day’s turnover. But when the internet crashes, or when there are power blackouts, traders might as well close.
Online shopping can of course only be done with credit or debit cards, so those traders are not interested in cash. That does not apply however to car boot sale markets, sausage sizzles, and many other community activities, where acquiring a point of sale machine would be too costly and prohibitive
I personally always have some notes and coins in my wallet, as I would feel naked without real money.
The consensus on my Facebook page, when I asked what method people prefer, was that most want cash and cards and are not in favour of a cashless society.
Roel Loopers
NO MORE VEHICLES ON SOUTH MOLE
Fremantle Ports will re-open the South Mole late this week, once bollards have been installed, but only to pedestrians and cyclists. Vehicles will no longer be permitted on the mole, as increased traffic had become an issue and made the narrow one lane mole less safe for those who enjoy going for a walk there.
South Mole was closed in March as a result of illegal camping, vandalism and anti-social behaviour, including a rave part that required police attendance. Up to 30 illegal overnight campers were recorded on the mole by Fremantle Ports and that created an issue with rubbish, unsuitable toilet facilities, no showers, vandalism, etc.
Fremantle Ports will assess how the vehicle closure works over the next months and how the public will react to the closure. Change is never straight forward. Some people will support it, while others will dislike it. I personally think it is a good idea.
Roel Loopers
WHY IS THE AUSTRALIA HOTEL CLOSED?
It is disappointing to hear from nearby Fremantle residents that the Australia Hotel on the corner of Beach and Parry streets has not been open for ten days. Does anyone know why that is?
I am wondering if the closure of the pedestrian bridge from the Passenger Terminal might have negatively impacted on the business of the beautiful old hotel.
Roel Loopers
BUSY AT THE FREO PORT’S NORTH QUAY
While waiting for the runners of the Fremantle Ports Harbour Master fun run on the South Mole on Sunday morning, I took the above photo of North Quay. The early sunlight was lovely, so it was impossible for this old shooter to ignore it.
Roel Loopers
PTA IGNORES CRUISE SHIP TOURISTS COMFORT
A picture is worth a thousand words, the saying goes, and it definitely applies to this photo. It indicates to me that the WA Government does not really care about the comfort of cruise ship passengers and crews, because the Public Transport Authority is doing nothing at all about the pedestrian bridge from the Fremantle Ports Passenger Terminal to Beach Street, that they suddenly closed two years ago.
According to the PTA the bridge is structurally unsafe, so why have they not demolished it? Surely if it is not safe, it might collapse onto the train line below, or even onto a passing train.
All efforts to get the PTA to either replace the bridge, or create a level crossing, have failed, so the poor old tourists have to walk a kilometre to the railway crossing near the Fremantle train station, to get into the city centre. That is simply not good enough!
Roel Loopers
BEAUTIFUL OLD BOY’S SCHOOL
I really like the former Boy’s School building at Princess May Park. The early morning light on the heritage building was beautiful this morning, so I could not resist to take this photo.
Roel Loopers
FUN TO RUN AT FREMANTLE PORTS
Nearly a thousand runners participated in this morning’s Fremantle Ports Harbour Master Classic run along the South Mole and North Quay.
It is always a lot of fun to watch, and today was even more special because the Coral Princess sailed into the harbour, whilst the run was on.
Roel Loopers
Feel free to share the photos on social media! Just credit Freoview.
MAY DAY POWERFUL PEOPLE PARADE
The May Day parade at noon in Fremantle today was huge and showed the strength of people power.
It is always noisy and very colourful when thousands of unionists march through our port city. I really like the tradition and significance of it.
Roel Loopers
Feel free to share the photos on social media! Click on them to enlarge
FREO PORT RUNNERS AND CRUISERS
Fantastic to have the Coral Princess cruise ship arriving during this morning’s Fremantle Ports Harbour Master Classic run, in which almost 1,000 runners participated.
I have plenty more photos, and will publish them either later today or tomorrow, as I am heading off to the May Day parade, which is on in 50 minutes.
Roel Loopers
NO VIBE AT NOTRE DAME OPEN DAY
Of all the years that I have been photographing the Fremantle Notre Dame University’s OPEN DAY, today’s one was the most unphotogenic and uninspiring one. There is normally a real buzz along Mouat Street and all around the campus, but today was very disappointing.
Roel Loopers
THE SOUND OF SILENCE ART EXHIBITION
Voice in Voices is a Ph.D graduation exhibition by Tami Xian in the Moores Contemporary Art Gallery in Fremantle’s Henry Street.
There are a lot of small red megaphones/loudhailers suspended from the ceiling, and is about the many voices that were silenced in China in recent years.
Roel Loopers
SOUTH FREMANTLE ARTWALK THIS WEEKEND
Here a map with the participating artists in this weekend’s Artwalk Fremantle. It is South Freo this weekend, White Gum Valley the next, and the Monument Hill Precinct the weekend after that.
It is a gorgeous day, so go for a nice slow walk, visit the artists at their studio homes, and maybe even buy a work of art.
This is a ticketed event, so check out details on Facebook, as I am not sure one can buy tickets at the door.
Roel Loopers
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FREMANTLE SOCIETY’S LOW-RISE MANIFESTO
The Fremantle Herald published the Manifesto of the Fremantle Society today, that calls for a Fremantle Development Authority, with input from local experts. That does not sound too bad, since local councils realistically have already lost control over city planning, with developments of over $ 2 million being assessed by JDAP.
But there is always a danger that the opinions of local experts might get ignored by a larger panel of planning, traffic and design experts.
The Manifesto states that Victoria Quay, the West End, and the historic town should not have any tall development, but that is should go elsewhere. That is unrealistic and contrary to the urban infill requirements of the WA government.
The Manifesto rightly complains about the lack of proper steam cleaning of our footpaths. It really is an unsightly mess! And their frustration that the Spare Parts Puppet Theatre has left for Claremont, also annoys many Freo people, including this blogger.
I wonder though why the Fremantle Society believes focusing on housing for the development of Fremantle Oval is the wrong priority? We have an enormous housing crisis, and while I would not like to see the Claremont Oval development emulated in Fremantle, some multi-storey residential buildings should most definitely be considered for the future of our Freo Oval.
I know redevelopment authorities well. I was the photographer for the East Perth Redevelopment Authority for seven years, and for the Midland Redevelopment Authority for eleven years, plus a three-year stint as the photographer for the Armadale Redevelopment Authority.
The best one, I believe, has been East Perth. I really enjoy walking there. They have created a really good sense of town centre and community, with lovely medium-rise buildings, great streetscapes, and the Claisebrook Inlet also works very well. Midland was a bit of a mixed bag, that failed to really make the old railway workshops a feature, and the bland Subi Centro redevelopment does not work, in my opinion.
The Fremantle Society Manifesto ends with stating that development of Victoria Quay should respect the height of the existing sheds and not introducing highrise. I have little doubt that buildings of medium-rise, higher that the low heritage sheds, will be seen on Victoria Quay in the foreseeable future. It’s a reality of modern life, that even the Fremantle Society will have to learn to accept one day soon.
Roel Loopers
WOOLSTORES WANT ARTS CONTRIBUTION RELIEF
Silverleaf Investments has applied to Fremantle Council that they will not have to pay the $ 140,000 percentage for the arts contribution for their $ 14 million three-storey Woolstores development at Cantonment Street, but the City of Fremantle officers recommend that council refuse the amendment to the development approval:
It is concluded that condition 26 of development approval DAP005/22 and the requirements therein, pursuant to Local Planning Policy 2.19 (Contributions for Public Art and/or Heritage Works), have been appropriately applied and remain valid and applicable to the extant development approval.
Officers do not consider that valid, material reasoning, or other appropriate statutory mechanism has been presented that would warrant the deletion of this condition or otherwise waive the requirements of LPP2.19.
As such, the proposed deletion of condition 26 of development approval DAP005/22, is not supported and the application is recommended for refusal.
These are difficult times for developers, with construction costs up by some 25 per cent, but at the same time the Fremantle inner city is crying out for great and substantial new public art.
Silverleaf Investments are the only ones who are currently building in the Fremantle CBD; the Woolstores site and the Warders Hotel at Parry Street, and they deserve some recognition and support for that. What about reducing the fee by 30-50 per cent, Fremantle Council?
The item is on the council agenda this Wednesday.
Roel Loopers
VICTORIA QUAY FUTURE NEEDS PROPER PLANNING
Here is this week’s Roel’s Round column in the Fremantle Herald:
The announcement by WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti last weekend, that the state government will be spending $ 40.5 million on upgrading Victoria Quay made me wonder how relevant the Future of Fremantle Committee is, or is it yet another example of community consultation that was just tokenism?
The Treasurer announced that $ 5 million will be spent on creating a new Rottnest Island ferry terminal in B Shed, with better luggage handling facilities and improved visitor experience. She also said that $ 35.5 million will be spent on strengthening the wharf at the Fremantle Ports Passenger Terminal, to accommodate even larger cruise liners in the future. Not a mention though if a new pedestrian bridge will be constructed from the terminal to Beach Street, to replace the current one that has been closed for over two years, or alternatively, a level crossing in that location, so that cruise ship passengers have easier connectivity to the Fremantle CBD, instead of having to walk a kilometre along the railway line at Peter Hughes Drive, with no protection from the sun or rain.
But I wonder why the government made this hasty announcement, that preempts a proper masterplan for Victoria Quay, and ignores the three options for the entire ports precinct, that the Future of Fremantle Committee published, and showed for several weeks in the Fremantle Townhall and Walyalup Civic Centre? Ignoring all that work and recommendations is not good and proper city planning, but ad hoc, piecemeal governance. It is disappointing pork barreling before next year’s state election, so that Labor politicians can say “Look how much we invests in Fremantle!”
The Future of Fremantle Committee conducted extensive community consultation, and held a week-long stakeholders event in the Maritime Museum. I attended two of those five days and it was very good. Lots of ideas were shared, and planning and traffic experts gave presentations, that showed there are a lot of great opportunities, but also restrictions and challenges for the area, once the working port moves to Kwinana.
Several of those who attended those sessions suggested that a new Passenger Terminal should be built near C Shed, closer to the train station railway crossing. It would make the connectivity to the inner city better, easier and more convenient for cruise ship passengers. But all that appears to have been been ignored by the Cook government.
When the port moves south, and once the restrictive buffer zones around the port have been removed, Victoria Quay will most likely have residential development, a hotel or tourist apartment accommodation similar to the Be. Fremantle apartments in the Fishing Boat Harbour. It will have waterfront restaurants, bars, shops, maybe a convention centre, an immigration museum, etc. It will be highly activated and become a tourist destination in its own right. But to achieve all that, coherent planning needs to be in place. Quick media grabs as part of an election campaign make a mockery of proper planning processes. That is not good for Fremantle’s future.
Rita Saffioti said about the B Shed ferry terminal, that the Rottnest Island visitor experience starts in Fremantle, but for the, mostly elderly, cruise ship passengers the visitor experience only starts on the city side, when they have finally crossed the railway line, because the state government and PTA can’t be bothered to create a new railway crossing for them near the Passenger Terminal. That is not good enough!
Roel Loopers
AMAZING SUNSET COLOURS
This was the sky over Fremantle at 5.40pm today, looking toward Fremantle Port. After that I watched a great lightning show over South Fremantle, but sadly no heavy rain so far.
Roel Loopers
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WONDERFUL WARMUN ART AT JAPINGKA
Japingka Gallery in Fremantle’s High Street has another wonderful exhibition of Aboriginal art in the upstairs galleries. It is by artists of the East Kimberley Warmun community and a must to view for all those who love Aboriginal art, as much as I do.
Japingka is the oldest Aboriginal art gallery in Perth and have been in the West End for nearly 30 years. They started as Desert Design in the High Street mall about 35 years ago.
Roel Loopers
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NOTRE DAME UNI CRITICISM NOT UNFAIR
I have received some comments regarding yesterday’s critical article about Fremantle’s Notre Dame University, so want to respond to that.
I consider myself a friend and supporter of our Freo uni, but like everyone in Fremantle they are not beyond criticism.
I agree that NDA did a remarkable job with the adaptive re-use of the West End heritage buildings. In some of them the interior of the buildings is outstanding.
Having said that, my criticism of the neglect of the former Courthouse remains, and the photos above, taken this morning, show that my criticism about it was not unfair. It is telling that on the Drill Hall side the exterior of the courthouse has been looked after, because students can see it, but the view from Marine Terrace tells a different story. That is not good enough, NDA!
Roel Loopers
NO LACK OF PARKING IN FREMANTLE CBD
So called parking problems, or lack of parking in the Fremantle CBD have almost become an urban myth, so I wanted to find out how many parking bays there actually are in the inner city.
The City of Fremantle replied that they have 1,000+ street parking bays, plus 2,000+ carpark bays in the CBD.
On top of that are the multi-storey carparks in Henderson Street and Collie Street, as well as other private carparks in Norfolk, Essex, William, Queen Victoria streets, as well as the carpark at the Woolstores, plus parking on Victoria Quay. There are probably more that I have forgotten to mentioned.
Having said that, Fremantle Council needs to start planning for the future, when the William Street carpark will be developed into a hotel, and one of the options I see is at least doubling the large carpark at Parry Street, below Fremantle Prison. A simple deck would double the parking capacity and one or two levels of basement parking would make it substantial. That is also important in consideration that Fremantle Oval will be developed, with the likely loss of the parking bays there as well.
In the meantime though, there is no shortage of parking in Fremantle, one might just not get a bay in front of where one wants to go, as we gladly accept at shopping centres, where we sometimes have to walk miles from our car to our shopping destination.
And don’t forget. Freo residents with a parking permit can park for free from 3pm to 11 am every day of the week.
Roel Loopers
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LOTS OF FREMANTLE WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
Get ready for a big weekend, Freo! There will be quite a bit going on, so come enjoy it and take part in it.
Artwalk Fremantle starts on Saturday and Sunday, with artists in South Fremantle opening their studio doors and homes to the public. This is a ticketed event, so check it out on Facebook.
Notre Dame University will be holding their annual Open Day on Saturday from 10am all along Mouat Street and in the campus buildings, so why not have a wander there.
On Sunday Morning from 8am the Fremantle Ports Harbour Master Classic fun run is on along Victoria Quay and the South Mole. It coincides with two cruise ships in the port, so that should also be fun to watch, or participate in.
And those who keep our country going will be having their annual May Day event at the Esplanade, with the parade coming through the inner city from 12 noon. Always a lot of noisy and colourful fun to watch all those unionists getting together.
Roel Loopers
FREMANTLE PORTS MANJAREE ART COMPETITION
Please pass this on to your indigenous friends and to high schools, so that many people will participate in the first ever Fremantle Ports Manjaree Indigenous Art Competition.
There are two categories: Open and Youth(under 18) and the 1st prizes will receive $ 3,000 each and runner ups $ 1,500.
But there is more! Entries will be projected onto the Fremantle Ports building, so that will be great exposure for all participants.
Only digital entries will be accepted, so scan the code and check it out. Good luck!
Roel Loopers
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WHAT IS GOING ON AT FREO’S NOTRE DAME UNI?
This Saturday, May 4, the yearly Open Day will be held at Fremantle’s Notre Dame University, so a good opportunity for high school students and their parents to find out what our Freo uni has to offer.
It is disappointing that NDA does not connect better with the Fremantle community. I rarely receive information from the uni nowadays and their marketing/media manager has left for a new job in Kwinana. I used to regularly bump into Vice Chancellor Francis Campbell at a local cafe, but have not seen him for at least six months.
A student at Fremantle’s Notre Dame contacted me, and is not very happy. The student, whose name I won’t mention, wrote that they are paying a huge amount of fees for a uni with pretty terrible resources.
There is currently no library, because it is being renovated, and only a dismal amount of cameras for media students. “The wifi at NDA is terrible, and all the desks in the classrooms are wobbly and old. There is no online access to anything” the student said.
“It takes weeks to get our marks back, and even then there is very minimal feedback, and if you have a question the staff are continually referring you back to a website that is never updated with the correct information.”
The student also wrote that it is very frustrating to see NDA neglect old buildings, have no student accommodation on campus, and also not allow the use of unused rooms for community groups. The student said that they tried to use a space recently for an event they are doing in collaboration with the City of Fremantle. “NDA straight up said no, even though the building has a huge significance in the history of the project we are doing.”
The student is asking “Where are all the fees going, all the classes are over populated, so it’s not like they aren’t making money.”
I have for several years pointed out the neglect of the old Courthouse on Marine Terrace, that looks shabby on the outside. It needs maintenance!
When Francis Campbell became Vice Chancellor some years ago, I had a very long talk with him. He told me he wanted to reposition the university, so that Fremantle would become a true university city, instead of a city with a university. That requires the uni to reach out to the community, but they are not doing that very well at all. That is so disappointing, because I love having all the students and staff in Freo, activating the historic West End.
Roel Loopers
ABILITY HEROES MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY
Ability Heroes Friendship Group Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month during 2024 in the Fremantle Library – Mardoo Room. So there is one tomorrow, May 1, from 10am to 12 noon at the Walyalup Civic Centre.
They promote access and inclusion and encourage participants from all walks of life to help find solutions to current issues.
This charity project supported by the Fremantle Council seeks your support. Contact manager@abilityheroes.org.au, 0409 105 855
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GREG BAKER EXHIBITION AT GREG JAMES GALLERY
Looking In-Seeing Out (Life in a Circle) is an exhibition of new works by renowned WA artist Greg Baker at the Greg James gallery in Fremantle’s J Shed at Bathers Beach. It is on from May 2 to 23.
Greg Baker’s latest exhibition of over 30 new works, reflects his daily walks near his Coogee home.
About the inspiration for this exhibition, Greg Baker said, ”George Harrison once said, ‘You can see the whole world from the end of your garden’. Taking that literally, my daily walks have inspired the theme for this exhibition – Life in a Circle”.
“Heading from home I walk through a corridor of Tuarts and Redgums to the ‘Woody’ Point Jetty, then along my favourite strip of sand to the Omeo Wreck, past the Coogee Jetty and back home to the studio.”
“I have painted the works for this show during the last four seasons, capturing all changes in light, skies and ocean”.
Prior to 2020 Greg spent half the year in Europe painting and conducting painting workshops and tours. His paintings have been exhibited in Berlin, France, London, Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as throughout Australia.
Roel Loopers
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LEAVING FREO STREETS IN A MESS
Contractors for Telstra dug up the corner of South Terrace and Suffolk Street a month and a half ago, and left it in a mess, as the photos above show.
Whilst they put the pavement back in at South Terrace, they did not bother to reinstate the pavement in Suffolk Street. They also left road traffic signs behind, and no one appears interested in picking them up, and cleaning up the mess. What are you going to do about it, City of Fremantle?
Roel Loopers
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NEW FREMANTLE HISTORY CENTRE
The new City of Fremantle History Centre is now open on the ground floor of the Walyalup Civic Centre.
It is open to the public on weekdays from 9am to 1pm, and by appointment in the afternoons.
Roel Loopers
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