FREO SOUQ MARKET IN SUPPORT OF SYRIA

 

 

The WINTER SOUQ MARKET is on all weekend at the Moore &Moore cafe in Fremantle’s Henry Street to raise funds for the UNICEF Syrian Crisis Appeal, so please support that good cause and go for a browse!

Roel Loopers

FROM FREMANTLE BID TO FREO NOW

 

 

The Fremantle Business Improvement District-BID ceased to exist, but it will continue in a different form and with a different name- FREO NOW.

Fremantle Council decided to use the differential rate CBD traders pay as part of their funding for the new Fremantle Destination Marketing and that meant the end of BID in its present form and the financial support from the City of Fremantle.

I will try to have a meeting with BID chair Karl Bullers soon to find out what role Freo Now want to play in marketing and supporting the small retailers in Fremantle.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE BUDGET AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

 

Fremantle Council has adopted an annual budget it claims to be the single largest local government investment in the city’s history.

The 2018-19 budget, adopted by the council on Wednesday night, included $46.3 million as the City’s contribution towards the broader Kings Square Renewal project, which includes the development of a new library, civic and community centre, upgrade of public spaces by the City and the redevelopment of the former Myer building, Queensgate building and Queensgate carpark by project partner Sirona Capital.

The 2018-19 budget also includes $920,000 for the roll-out of the new FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) waste management system, and $2.8 million to construct the new Fremantle Park Sport and Community Centre.

Residential rates will rise by a modest average of 2.9 per cent, which includes a 2 per cent increase to partly fund the costs of implementing the FOGO system, including the purchase of new FOGO bins.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said  that “It’s a significant achievement that the City has been able to deliver this unprecedented level of investment and keep rate increases low, despite the substantial increases in costs through state government charges like power and water.”

The 2.9 per cent average rate increase is the second lowest since 2000. The lowest was last year’s increase of 1.5 per cent.

Total budget expenditure is $150.1 million, comprised of $57.7 million in capital expenditure, $90.7 million in operating expenditure and $1.7m in loan repayments.

Other budget highlights include:
• $2.5 million road improvement and maintenance program
• $743,000 for more CCTV
• $506,000 to refurbish Cantonment Hill Naval Store
• $250,000 for internal restoration works at the Town Hall
• $110,000 to upgrade the Esplanade Youth Plaza
• $100,000 for further upgrades to South Terrace
• $115,000 on new play equipment
• $25,000 to prepare concept plans for Fremantle Station city square and Queen Street upgrades.

Roel Loopers

WEDDING WALL REPAIRS RETAIN HERITAGE INTEGRITY

 

 

Good to see that the Fremantle’s Notre Dame University acted swiftly on my concerns about the so-called Wedding Wall in Cliff Street.

Repairs to retain the integrity of the heritage-listed wall have started, so now hoping that NDA will also beautify the rather unsightly carpark behind the wall in the near future.

Roel Loopers

FREO’S FOMO INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE FINALIST

 

 

The Fremantle Kings Square FOMO retail development by Sirona Capital is a finalist in the World Architecture Festival 2018, with judging being held at the RAI  exhibition and convention centre in Amsterdam in November this year.

FOMO Fremantle, designed by HDR architects, has been selected as a finalist in the Leisure Led Development – Future Project category.

The World Architecture Festival celebrates inspiring and outstanding architecture. It is the only architecture event where keynote talks from the industry’s most influential figures occur together with live judging presentations from over 500 award finalists. It is the only global awards program where architects present their projects live to a panel of internationally renowned judges and delegates from around the world.

The $270m Kings Square Fremantle, which includes the new $50m City of Fremantle civic centre, is a transformational renewal project in the heart of Western Australia’s historic port city. It will become a major entertainment, retail, and employment precinct.

Roel Loopers

Sorry about the picture quality, but I could not find higher resolution.

PLASTIC FREE JULY ART SHOW AT BITCHES BREW

 

 

Fremantle High Street framers BITCHES BREW will be involved with Plastic Free July this year

The BB Art Space will be hosting work from 3 local environmental artists, each showcasing a very different approach, using some fantastic mediums.

There will also be a special installation from the Plastic Free July Foundation on display, and raising awareness. It starts on July 1, so go and check it out!

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE WANTS BALANCED CBD DEVELOPMENT

 

The number of planning applications for new taverns and hotels in the Fremantle CBD has forced Fremantle Council into action to assure that the inner city will not become just an entertainment centre with lots of alcohol related outlets, but that an appropriate mix of use will be guaranteed.

POLICY: Development within the City Centre zone should contribute towards its function as an attractive urban centre offering a full range of functions and land uses that collectively serve both local and regional catchments.

Development involving Hotel and Tavern land uses should contribute to this objective by ensuring that the type and scale of the venue are suitable to their location and avoid concentration of alcohol related entertainment to the point that this undermines balanced mixing of land uses.

1. Specifically, Hotel and Tavern establishments of 400m2 licenced NLA or greater within the City Centre zone shall demonstrate how the proposal contributes to land use diversity through the provision of a mix of other compatible land uses on the site. This may be demonstrated by the inclusion in the same development application of floor area for other uses equal to or greater than the floor area proposed for tavern or hotel use, or evidence of how other existing uses on the same site can operate alongside the proposed use in a complimentary manner that contributes to diversity and activation in the city centre.

2. Council may, at its discretion, vary 1, above: a. For small sites with limited physical opportunity to provide land use diversity on site, where it is satisfied an appropriate land use mix and diversity is maintained in the immediate locality (namely the street block). b. In cases where a proposal involves reuse of a heritage listed building where: The building was designed and traditionally operated for the land use sought; or The 400m2 licenced NLA criteria is marginally exceeded in response to the existing building layout.

3. In assessing development applications involving the serving of alcohol, Council seeks to avoid duplications of the assessment of matters undertaken by the Director of Liquor Licencing or the Liquor Commission as part of the liquor licencing approval process under the Liquor Control Act 1989 (including hours of operation, patron capacity and public interest). 

There will be a public consultation period for this policy proposal.

Roel Loopers

FREO HILTON DOUBLE TREE DEVELOPMENT STARTS THIS YEAR

 

The development of the Hilton Double Tree hotel and 99 residential apartments on the Point Street carpark site will commence in October this year, over a year earlier than the planned start in January 2020.

Fremantle Council had approved a delayed start by the SKS Land group to 2020, but the developers have now asked council to approve the earlier start.

SKS will build a two-level basement car park and demolish the multi-storey old carpark, but SKS have indicated that if the pre-sales for the apartments are slow they might want a one year break in construction.

While Fremantle council is not happy to lose the 326 car bays it has included a clause that if a one-year break is required the City can use the entire site for public parking.

It is a welcome step forward that SKS now want to starts this year, as there had been concerns that they might pull out of the development.

Roel Loopers

 

HEAVY RAIN IN FREMANTLE

 

 

There has been a lot of rain in Fremantle since yesterday early evening, with some very heavy showers.

The foot and bicycle path near the Roundhouse always gets flooded, and that also effects the  busy railway crossing to the historic tourist destination, so something the City of Fremantle should improve, as it is not great to walk through deep puddles whenever there are showers.

Roel Loopers

PS: My car was parked at the Elizabeth’s bookshop warehouse when I took the top photo.

HIDDEN TREASURES MUSICAL DELIGHT

 

 

The Fremantle HIDDEN TREASURES WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL starts tomorrow in the historic West End.

The ‘secret location’ has been revealed. It is the Wyola Club premises.

Check out the full program here >> http://www.hiddentreasuresfreo.com.au/

National Hotel (Upstairs)
Doors already open. Music from 7.45pm
7.45pm- 8.30pm – Emlyn Johnson
9pm – 9.45pm – Le Mezz Club and Mike Slade
10.15pm -11pm – HEEBIEJEEBIES

Buffalo Club, Fremantle
Doors open 7.00pm
8.15pm – 9pm Bass Lemon
9.30pm – 10.15pm Debbie Downers
10.45pm – 11.30pm Paige McNaught Experience – PMX

Fremantle Navy Club
Doors open 7.00pm
7.30pm – 8.15pm J.F.K
9pm – 9.45pm Leopard Lake
10.30pm – 11.30pm The Soul Movers

Wyola Club
Doors open 7pm
8pm – 8.45pm Cuss
9.05pm – 9.50pm Girlfriend Material
10.10pm – 10.55pm Last Quokka

PS Art Space
Doors open 8.30 pm
8.30: PSAS DJs
9pm – 9.45pm Hyclass
9.45: PSAS DJs
10.15pm – 11.15pm Downsyde
11.15: PSAS DJs

The Tram
Departing every hour from in front of the Buffalo Club:
8.00, 9.00, 10.00: Sunbird (Dave from Mister and Sunbird)

CORRECTION! Former Freo Councillor Tim Grey-Smith alerted me that the festival actually starts Thursday week July 5 and not tomorrow. It just shows that I am a fool. Sorry!!