FREMANTLE TRAINS NOT RUNNING TODAY

 

Yesterday I saw a notice on Facebook by the PTA that Fremantle trains would not be running at night this weekend but a Roundhouse volunteer guide just told me she had to take a bus from Mosman Park because the trains are not running during the day either.

With WINTERWORLD just starting today it is amazing how the Public Transport Authority so often cancel Freo trains when festivals are on. Is there any collaboration with the City of Fremantle at all?

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE HOME PORT FOR VASCO DA GAMA CRUISES

 

Fantastic to hear that Cruise&Maritime Voyages have announced that Fremantle will be the home port for the 1220 passengers Vasco da Gama cruise ship for their inaugural Australasian cruises 2019/20.

Princess Cruises already committed to Fremantle as their home port in Australia, so it looks like Freo will have a busy cruise season this coming summer.

Roel Loopers

IRONIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR WEST END

 

I have to admit that I had a smile on my face when I read the agenda for Wednesday’s City of Fremantle Planning Committee and noticed that architect Shane Braddock is applying for planning approval for a two-storey addition at 33-37 High Street in Freo’s West End.

Braddock is a very loud voice constantly complaining on social media how unsafe Fremantle’s CBD is and the anti social behaviour that is allegedly happening next door to his property at the backpackers and on the street below.

It is a bit ironic then that he now wants to extend the property for his family with a living and dining area, a kitchen and bedroom, and adding a bridge between the front and rear buildings and also add a water tower.

But good luck to Shane. I welcome anyone who wants to commit to Fremantle’s progress, so good to see the officer’s recommendation is for Council to approve the proposed development.

Can the property owner please also remove the yellow foil from the facade of the building while he is doing the additions.

Roel Loopers

 

FREO’S LAST TEN YEARS NOT A FAILURE

There is a Not Happy Brad! whinge letter in the Fremantle Herald today by a Keith Manton, who blames the Fremantle Mayor for just about everything that is wrong in our city.

Drug taking, street drinking, begging. Blame the Mayor when everyone by now should be aware that WA Police is responsible for taking care of these issues and crimes and anti social behaviour. They do that pretty well with assistance of the Fremantle community safety officers.

The one point I agree on with Mr Manton is that lack of good quality architecture we are getting, but most of the major projects are approved by the state’s JDAP and not the City.

According to the director responsible for the removal of the yellow foil at High Street comes in under the $ 220.000 budget, so not anywhere near the one million Mr Manton claims it will cost. Can we get an update on that please Director Graham Tattersall. Thanks!

Vacant shops and the cry out for more diversity is nothing new. Retail vacancies are unfortunately happening everywhere around Perth and Australia and Fremantle Council cannot enforce lower rents or dictate to property owners which tenants and businesses to take on, although the economic development team has been trying hard to get more diversity in Fremantle’s shopping.

It was on expert advise that Fremantle Council decided not to renovate the old Civic Center and go ahead with an all new one that will compliment the Sirona Capital commercial development at Kings Square. To say that replacing the ailing building was totally unnecessary is being ignorant of the facts.

Have the last ten years of Fremantle under the leadership of Mayor Brad Pettitt been a failure, as Keith Manton claims? I don’t believe so, as the Kings Square Redevelopment Project will make a significant difference to the economic revitalisation of our city. It will require a bit more of our patience, and no doubt that is very difficult for many of our struggling traders, so let’s support them!

Could Fremantle Council and the administration improve? Absolutely, and I have no doubt they are aware of that.

Roel Loopers

 

WILL LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM CREATE BETTER COUNCILLORS?

 

Landmark local government reforms passed by State Parliament will bring councils into the 21st century as the first reforms resulting from the Local Government Act review. But will the new WA Local Government Reform create better Councillors through inductions and training?

I have been amazed for many years that many of those who nominate for a position on local council do not even bother to do the basic homework of attending Council and Committee meetings, so when elected they come in unprepared and for some of them it takes very long to understand local government process, so let’s hope the reform will improve the level of local governance we are getting.

These reforms target key priority areas identified by the community and local government sector to better prepare council members for their challenging role, strengthen governance, empower councils to communicate with residents using modern technology and expand the amount of information available to the public online.

Commencing at the 2019 ordinary local government elections in October, all candidates will be required to have completed an online induction. This free, online module will be available on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ website in July.

Building the capacity of council members further, all council members will be required to complete a training program following their election covering key areas such as conflicts of interest, understanding financial reports and budgets, and serving on council.

Reforms will also:

• Improve standards of behaviour through a mandatory code of conduct for council members and candidates;
• Introduce new standards for CEO recruitment and performance management to help elected members select a CEO and assess their performance;
• Provide clarity for elected members to manage real and perceived conflicts of interest related to gifts; and
• Require local governments to publish information on their website such as local laws, approved council policies and all documents contained within a meeting agenda allowing instant access to council information for everyone 24/7.

 

Roel Loopers

 

MORE PROTECTION IN NEW HERITAGE ACT

 

It is important for Fremantle that stronger protections for Western Australia’s heritage places will come into effect on July 1, 2019, with the gazettal of the new Heritage Act 2018 and Heritage Regulations 2019 taking place today (June 27).

The new legislation replaces the outdated Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990, aligning WA with other States by ensuring better protections for important heritage places, particularly those left to ‘demolition by neglect’.

Key changes include:

• A streamlined process for entering a place in the State Register of Heritage Places;
• Clarity for owners wishing to develop their heritage places;
• Better protection for heritage places at risk from ‘demolition by neglect’;
• Increased transparency by publishing the Heritage Council’s advice to the Minister for Heritage on the inclusion of a place in the State Register; and
• Time limits on certain decisions to provide certainty for decision-makers, industry and the community. 

The Heritage Council provides technical and professional assistance, and promotes public awareness and knowledge in relation to the State’s cultural heritage.

For a copy of the new Act and regulations, visit http://www.dplh.wa.gov.au

 

Roel Loopers

RAINBOW AT ARTHUR’S HEAD

 

 

It was a wet, wild and very windy day and there is more to come, but the beautiful rainbow I photographed at Fremantle’s Arthur’s Head made up for the cold day that required a few layers of clothing.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE BANS GAS-FILLED BALLOONS

 

A new policy was endorsed by Fremantle Council last night to ban the release of gas-filled balloons on City property and at City of Fremantle events.

Deflated balloons often end up in the ocean and endanger wildlife, so it is another small step to looking after our environment better.

The ban will become law once it has been gazettet by the State Government in about a month.

Roel Loopers

HOLLIS PARK PLANTING DAY

 

 

Plenty of rain in Fremantle currently and that is going to last for a while according to BOM, but that should not deter anyone from participating in Saturday’s Hollis Park community planting event.

It is on from 10am.

Roel Loopers

WALYALUP RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN FOR FREMANTLE

 

Ordinary Council of the City of Fremantle signed off on the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan on Wednesday evening, which I believe is another big step-many small steps-forward for real reconciliation in our city.

Here from the agenda:

The City is developing a WRAP for many reasons but primarily to engage better with Aboriginal people and the general community to advance values of inclusiveness and equality. It’s been almost 20 years since council committed to developing a Policy on Conciliation, Respect and Recognition and 3 years on from an Aboriginal Engagement Plan.

A key learning from this is that maintaining relationships with Aboriginal people is like an investment with the more invested the better the return. This WRAP will add to this work and form an overarching framework for what is occurring now and to update and measure future deliverables.

Reconciliation Australia determines four types of RAP’s – Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. Reflect is for organisations that are new to the reconciliation journey; Innovate is for organisations that are trialling different approaches to reconciliation and are testing where their resources are best invested; Stretch is for organisations that are setting measurable outcome targets for their activities, and Elevate is for organisations that are considered leaders in reconciliation, have a wealth of experience and knowledge, and can assist Reconciliation Australia and other organisations.

In consultation with Reconciliation Australia it was determined the most appropriate RAP type for the City would be the Stretch RAP which was named by the City’s RAP Working Group as the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan (WRAP).

The purpose of the City’s WRAP, specifically a Stretch RAP, is to raise awareness and support through the development of solid foundations, governance models and future commitments that promote sustainable opportunities in areas such as employment, economic development and procurement all the while celebrating and recognising Aboriginal culture.

The City’s Stretch WRAP sets out the actions and deliverables required to prepare the City for reconciliation in successive RAPs. The first community forum in September 2018 was well attended with over 100 people who provided input to 15 actions and 74 deliverable outcomes. Media coverage attracted significant interest in the City’s WRAP and in particular the dual naming opportunities identified in the plan. Feedback was sourced from the wider community along with some mandated requirements from Reconciliation Australia, bringing the total of 19 actions and 99 deliverable outcomes over the next three years.

The high number of people accessing the WRAP document along with the robust conversations resulting on social media and throughout the community could be seen as an indication for overwhelming support, in addition to the proportionally low number of raised concerns.

The WRAP will be a whole of organisation approach, guided and championed by the Walyalup Reconciliation Reference Group. The plan will be reviewed every 12 months in alignment with the financial year. The plan will be reviewed with Reconciliation Australia after two years. Reports will be provided annually to Reconciliation Australia, and annually in the City’s Annual Report.

The City’s vision for reconciliation is to create an inclusive, caring community where Aboriginal people experience the same life outcomes as other Australians, and where their special place in our nation and our City is recognised. We want a community and an organisation in which Aboriginal people are acknowledged, listened to and understood; a community and organisation that respect and tell the truth about history, and where healing and growth is nurtured by all of us. Ultimately, we want this to be a shared vision for Fremantle, where the City embraces culture and heritage, and where Aboriginal people are part of making decisions and improvements for community wellbeing.

The City recognises the importance of meaningful engagement, mutual respect, creating trust and utilising culturally appropriate practices and protocols to truly understand its local communities. The City has a strong commitment to working collaboratively with the Aboriginal community.

The resulting document captures this vision and demonstrates the City’s commitment to help increase respect, foster relationships and develop opportunities for Aboriginal people in 19 actions and 99 deliverables.

Roel Loopers