FREO’S NEW ECONOMIC MANAGER SEES NO NEED FOR TALL BUILDINGS

Tom Griffiths the new City of Fremantle Manager of Economic Development and Marketing received a big hello in the Sunday Times today, so welcome from me too Tom!

I am more than delighted that Tom told the Sunday Times that big projects and tall buildings is not what Fremantle needs, but it needs fine grain detail to ground level, pop-up shops, shared spaces for entrepreneurs with big ideas and small budgets, and retail to fit in with the unique Fremantle character. I reckon he is pretty spot on there because if we make another Joondalup out of our city it will lose its appeal to shoppers and tourists. We as a progressive, creative, pro-development community should not allow out of scale buildings to happen and need to stop Freo’s concrete cowboys before it is too late for our city.

On that note it is worth pointing out that developer Bruce Moriarty has bought the State Energy Museum site opposite Princess May Park  that he intends to develop into many small apartments. Nothing wrong with that, but Bruce said his development won’t please the purists, and since he is responsible for the awful Rose Hotel development in North Fremantle that should never have been build, this is a worrying statement. The Rose development totally disrespected the heritage aspects of the old hotel. You have to do better than that Bruce!

Roel Loopers

 

FREO NEEDS SMART THINKERS

The Sunday Times writes that a new report on urban development by the Greens and the Property Council of WA has been applauded by the Australian Urban Design Research Centre who say that better urban design and integrated public transport is essential to making Perth a livable city. The Transforming Perth report states that car-dominated roads should be made into attractive community hubs, serviced by light rail, street level retail and above that medium density terrace houses.

Transforming Perth found that terrace housing along tram (light rail) lines could create 150,00 new, medium-density, homes. That is more than the Western Australian government’s infill housing target for 2031. Vibrant communities along tram lines will bring jobs and opportunities out to the suburbs according to Greens senator Scott Ludlam.

Let’s hope the City of Fremantle is taking note of the report because terrace housing would suit Fremantle very well while high-rise will destroy our city. High density also means high traffic volumes and congestion while more people friendly human scale buildings will avoid that.

I believe the city needs to be a place for people and that requires strategic, smarter and more creative thinking, not mega dollars and high-rise.

Roel Loopers

CARLES TO FIGHT ON. GOOD LUCK ADELE!

The Sunday Times today reports that the independent Member for Fremantle Adele Carles has announced she will contest the March 9 election. It will be a pretty hard fight and it seems unlikely she can win the seat even with the preferences from the Greens and Liberal parties. They have not decided who they’ll give their preferences to, but I doubt the Greens will give them to Carles, while the Liberals just might because it could affect the Labor numbers.

There is no doubt that Adele Carles has worked very hard as the Member for Fremantle and she should be thanked for that. It must be a pretty hard task to make a difference as an independent, but she worked tirelessly for her constituants.

Good luck with your campaign Adele!

Roel Loopers

 

GOODBYE TO MYER FREMANTLE

It did not take long for the demolition team to start dismantling the MYER signs at Kings Square in Fremantle, so depending on planning approval we’ll see some work on the building there later this year.

I am personally not sad to see Myer go as the department store was operating well below standard, so I obviously disagree with the person who claims in the Sunday Times that the end of Myer is the end of Fremantle. I believe the Kings Square redevelopment is a great opportunity for Fremantle and we just need to make sure it is not messed up because of egos and council not listening to the people of the City. If Kings Square is done well it will be another asset for our city, if it is done badly and on the cheap it will be a disaster.

Roel Loopers

 

BAD JUDGMENT BY CARLES TO GET INVOLVED IN BUSWELL SAGA

I am pretty disappointed that the member for Fremantle Adele Carles got herself involved in yet another media attack on Minister Troy Buswell. There was absolutely no reason for it and it is very poor judgment by Adele. All she needed to say to the Sunday Times was “No Comment” but instead she lets herself being sucked in to  respond.

I like Adele, and it is well-known Troy Buswell often lacks proper judgment, but why on earth be part of this media rubbish that could only get worse and is a no win for all. It taints Carles and Buswell and it is her word against those of others.

Will we ever know the truth, or more precisely, do we really care? A private party, a disagreement between two lovers, a relationship split up, does he drink too much, etc. It should all have stayed at home and in private as there really is no public interest in this. Only the tabloid media benefits from this sort of rubbish.

Adele should have been wiser and should have consulted with other people before giving a statement to the Sunday Times. To say she did not start it but only responded to a media inquiry is naive. She added the fuel that made the article the front page news it became. Without her statement there was not much else to report on than rumour and innuendo.

Now let’s see some Christmas spirit  and maturity and let all parties stop making public statements about this.

Roel Loopers

 

VOTE KEEP FREO IN FREO ON DOCKERS BOARD

Online voting for the new board of the Fremantle Dockers club starts today and closes on November 26, so all Dockers fans out there who want to keep the Dockers in Fremantle and not move to Cockburn better vote for Chris Lewis one of the founders of the Keep Freo in Freo action group.

Chris is a well known and well liked Fremantle identity and highly respected in the public relations industry.

Chris said in an interview with the Sunday Times that the Dockers are a wonderful organisation, club and business, but that it was important that the club remained in Fremantle because it gives the club an important geographic and historic link.

If the Dockers stay in town it will mean the redevelopment of the Stan Reilly site next to Fremantle Hospital and an upgrade of Fremantle Oval, which would link the Cappuccino Strip all the way to Wray Avenue.

VOTE CHRIS LEWIS!

Roel Loopers

SUNDAY TRADING WAR HEATING UP

The Sunday Times today reports on action local councils like Fremantle and Subiaco are taking to make sure they’ll fight the expected downturn in visitors and shoppers once the new Sunday trading hours are implemented.

Both Subi and Freo talk about free parking, but it is likely more is needed. Fremantle is very much a fun destination on weekends with markets, buskers and often events on the Esplanade. The Winter Festival ice rink is attracting large crowds. The, very soft, ice was absolutely packed with people at midday and I was told it was even busier in the morning.

The lesson in this is that the City of Fremantle needs to start thinking about a Sunday Festival. An event on each Sunday of the year that will make us stand out from shopping centres and other cities like Midland, Subiaco, Morley, etc. We have got the great Circus School, so maybe a good start to get them to do free performances on the Esplanade or Princess May Park.

Traders should also do things differently. It was good to see Gurps at the Maya Indian Restaurant in Market Street today having a barbeque on the street and offering free samples of Chicken Tikka. Attracting new business, and keeping existing clients, is all about delivering quality and service in new and creative ways.

What about reimbursing public transport fees on Sundays at the Visitors Centre, Freo?

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE PRESSING MATTERS

Fremantle has received mixed press coverage this weekend. The West Australian reported yesterday on the ongoing and increasing violence, drunkenness and anti-social behaviour on Friday and Saturday nights in the port city, with business owners complaining about thugs, violence and vomiting on the Cappuccino Strip every weekend.

A far more positive report was the review of the Voices from the West End book. A must read for all who are interested in Fremantle and history. A good buy for under $ 40.00

The Sunday Times today made the people of Perth aware of the Winter Festival, but forgot to write this is not a Perth but a Fremantle event. The ice rink is being installed at the Esplanade at this very moment, and the festival starts next weekend. There will be food stalls, cafe and a bar, open fires, etc. All based on an Alpine theme

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE RENT REDUCED

Nice to see this property in Henry Street, Fremantle offered at reduced rent, even more so when the Sunday Times today reports that median rent prices for houses in North Fremantle have gone up from $ 500.00 a week to a staggering $ 800.00 a week. I hope landlords do realise that not everybody is working in the mining industry and that we are not all earning well over $ 100,000.00 a year.

Please don’t make living in Fremantle unaffordable for those who made it the great place it is! We need student and low income housing in our city to keep the diversity, creativity and vibrancy.

Roel Loopers

ADELE OUT IF LIBERALS CONTEST FREMANTLE

The Sunday Times reports today that the independent Member for Fremantle Adele Carles has announced she will not contest the seat next year should the Liberal Party put a candidate forward. As reported here the Liberals have advertised to find someone to contest “the winnable seat of Fremantle” for them.

I believe Adele Carles is right to say she would be wasting her money and time to contest the seat if it becomes a four horse race between Labor, the Greens, the Liberals, and herself. There could even be another independent candidate taking away votes from genuine contenders, so it is likely that preferences will decide who will win Freo.

Although demographics in our city have changed, I doubt the Liberals stand a real chance winning here, and I believe there might be a Greens backlash, as the Greens councillors on Fremantle council have supported highrise in the inner city, which has created resentment in the community.

Should the Liberals not put a candidate forward, Carles could well have a chance retaining the seat, although I doubt she can do that without preferences, and the Greens would not give theirs to her, which would benefit Simone McGurk.

Although Mc Gurk has had a low profile in Fremantle, my bet is on her to win the seat of Fremantle in March 2013, as there are many people feeling pretty fed up with the Colin Barnett Liberal government.

Roel Loopers