FREO WAITING FOR SUMMER

 

 

The umbrellas at the Fremantle Bathers Beach House are waiting for summer so that they can spread out and protect patrons from harming sun rays, but today they remain rolled up as more rain is coming our way.

Roel Loopers

BIG GRANT FOR KINGS SQUARE PLAYGROUND

 

 

The City of Fremantle has been successful in securing a $342,000 grant from Lotterywest to go towards the new play space in Kings Square.

Inspired by the Fremantle’s industrial history and close links with nature, the concept design for the play space includes features such as cranes, bridges, train tracks and shipping containers and incorporates natural elements including water and trees.

It’s also set to feature bold lighting treatments, interactive soundscapes and tactile nature play elements.

The concept is for the play space to have zones which will appeal to a broad age range from toddlers through to primary school children, as well as being accessible for children with disabilities.

Programmable lighting elements will also highlight the play space features at night, creating a whole new look and feel after dark and to make it a feature of the broader public space in Kings Square.

Around 170 Fremantle kids and their parents were asked to help design the new play space through surveys and a series of workshops at local schools.

WA-based landscape architecture firm Seedesign Studio were selected via a competitive tender process to develop a concept based on their feedback.

Construction on the play space is expected to start in August 2020 and be completed by December.

A focal point for the play space will be a new Moreton Bay fig tree to replace the tree that had to be removed last year due to public safety concerns.

A replacement fig tree has been identified and is being prepared for relocation from Ord Street to Kings Square in winter next year.

Roel Loopers

FREO TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR SALE

 

 

I hear the Fremantle Technical College opposite the Fremantle Markets is for sale, so what would the Freo community like to see there?

It would be great if it could be converted into student accommodation for Notre Dame University, or made into a lovely boutique hotel.

The building is state heritage listed but in a prime location so I am sure it will be sold fast.

Roel Loopers

WESTPORT TASKFORCE RESPONDS TO UNFAIR CRITICISM

 

The Westport Taskforce has received a lot of criticism from the Liberal party and its PR agency the West Australian and Sunday Times, plus from interest groups, so it is good to see that the chair of the taskforce Nicole Lockwood has responded and rejects criticism that was often not based on facts, as she points out.

Read it all here: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-australia/55a2a28b14ce22b742f8e9aff4526a6ae746b60f/documents/attachments/000/114/622/original/FINAL_Westport_Project_Update_15.pdf?1567142690?utm_medium=email

Roel Loopers

A FREO HIDDEN TREASURE

 

 

Who knows where this hidden treasure is in Fremantle?

Dave and Rochelle you are not allowed to answer the question. ; >)

Roel Loopers

TOO WET FOR ALFRESCO FISH?

 

 

I don’t think I have ever seen the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour so quiet at lunch time, as it was today, although the weather is quite pleasant after the heavy showers early this morning.

Empty tables at Cicerello’s and Kailis, so not much fun for the seagulls either.

Roel Loopers

 

NAIDOC MUSIC AWARDS AT FREO SOCIAL

 

 

Kaya! The NAIDOC Music Awards are on at Freo.Social on Parry Street next Friday September 6. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are available at Moshtix.

Support our Aboriginal musicians!

Roel Loopers

PETITION AGAINST FREMANTLE PUBLIC LAND SALE

 

I came across this petition on Change.org that was started by Arts Centre Precinct resident Paula Amaral. It has 126 signatures currently.

A petition calling for a moratorium on the sale of Fremantle publicly owned land to private developers.

Available land near our City centre is at a premium because it is accessible to public transport and walking distance to shops and other amenities.

At present our City has a few vacant sites of publicly owned land, destined to be sold to private developers. Some of this land is owned by the State government, and some by the City of Fremantle. It used to have mostly social value, but now seems to have only financial value.

Once the land is sold to private developers, it will be lost to the community forever.

These are our assets and we should have a say in whether selling them to private developers purely to retire civic debt is really in the best interests of the community.

We are all aware of the rise of homelessness in our streets and the increase in poverty, which leads to terrible costs to our society. Research is showing a great need for affordable housing and facilities, not only for the visible homeless but all those at risk of homelessness.

For the last 30 years the policy of selling publicly owned land to private developers has significantly contributed to the lack of affordable housing in our City.

We are petitioning for a moratorium on the sale of our publicly owned land before it is too late. Let’s stop this practice which has contributed so much to social disadvantage and inequality.

 

Roel Loopers

COME SHOOT IN FILM FRIENDLY FREMANTLE!

 

It’s a wrap! Fremantle is now officially a Film Friendly City after Council adopted a policy on Wednesday in the hope to attract more film and TV productions to the port city.

The City of Fremantle will reduce fees and charges, streamline applications and provide support with locations and logistics.

Fremantle Councillors believe there are potential marketing and tourism benefits for the city with the new policy, and that film and TV productions also create jobs as they use local talent, professionals, caterers, make-up artists, hairdressers, costume makers, etc. so it stimulates the local economy while getting the Freo name and brand out in the world.

Two Australian film productions have been shot in Fremantle this year.

I Met a Girl – the story of an impulsive young musician struggling with schizophrenia who falls for a mysterious woman – was shot at various locations in the West End, while Below – a black comedy-drama starring Anthony LaPaglia and Ryan Corr – was shot at Fremantle Prison.

Roel Loopers

DON’T WORRY BIN HAPPY

 

 

Fremantle residents have been asking what will happen to the old bins when the three bin FOGO-Food Organic Garden Organic will be implemented over the next weeks.

The big general waste bin will be replaced with a new lime-green lidded bin and a smaller general waste red-lidded one, while we keep the yellow-lidded recycling bin.

City of Fremantle Director of Infrastructure and Project Delivery Graham Tattersall explained that from the 11,000 bins collected 600 will be kept in Fremantle for reuse, and the others will go to Adelaide bin supplier Mastec, which will recycle the old bins by shredding them and reuse them for the manufacturing of new bins.

The initial costs for the FOGO system is just over one million dollars.

Roel Loopers