FREO PUB DEATH NO BIG DEAL?

 

 

We live in strange times, where respect for fellow humans and property are often just a second thought, if at all.

I was quite surprised to see it is business as usual at the Fremantle Sail&Anchor pub this Sunday, after a young man fell from their balcony last evening at 8.30 and died in Fiona Stanley Hospital last night.

I am not blaming anyone for the accident, but I wonder why the Sail&Anchor does not show more respect for the dead man and his family by closing the pub for a day.

 

Roel Loopers

 

MAN FALLS FROM SAIL&ANCHOR BALCONY

 

A West Perth man died in hospital last night after falling from a balcony at the Fremantle Sail&Anchor pub.

He fell through the plastic weather protection that surrounds the first floor verandah to the ground of South Terrace around 8.30 pm.

People who were out and about in Fremantle last night were shocked that the Sail&Anchor remained open after the accident. Many believed it should have closed after the incident.

 

Roel Loopers

BEACH STREET KIOSK TAVERN

 

The owners of the KIOSK at Fremantle Beach Street, opposite the East Street Jetty, can thank their good luck that Fremantle Council did not sign off on handing over the former DADAA building next door to become the new location for the Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

I doubt that under those circumstances the City of Fremantle would have agreed to change the popular cafe from cafe to tavern, as they requested, and will be debated at the FPOL Committee this Wednesday.

The KIOSK wants to expand their business and have applied for a variation in license from 240 sqm to approximately 418 sqm, and they want to apply for a tavern liquor license to accommodate small functions and groups that is up to now restricted to table service.

The City of Fremantle is at present liaising with Aboriginal elders and groups to find out what they want to achieve with a cultural centre and then find an appropriate building in Freo for our Noongar friends.

Roel Loopers

SUNSET EVENTS J SHED TAVERN SAGA CONTINUES

 

 

New plans by Sunset Events for a tavern at J Shed on historic Arthur Head are out for public comment for the next two weeks, so make sure to view them and send in your submissions to the City of Fremantle.

The proposal is for a 400 patron tavern, but plans for a micro brewery and coffee roastery appear to have been scrapped, and there is no application for ticketed music events in the tavern. I don’t believe that means Sunset Events can’t hold concerts in the tavern which patrons might have to pay for, as is sometimes the case at Clancy’s, for example.

Part of the plans look quite good. The small timber deck with a pergola to the south is nice, and if that was all for a 150 patron cafe and small bar I would support the proposal.

But Sunset Events also want to occupy a huge area of the A Class Reserve and put two units (seacontainers?) on for an outdoor kitchen, a bar, and also portable toilets clad in timber at the western side of the reserve.

They will also cut off the connectivity between Victoria Quay and the Fishing Boat Harbour, which will mean that tourists no longer will be able to access the art galleries at units 2, 3 and 4 from the south. They would have to walk all the way around, to nearly the South Mole and backtrack to those studios and that is highly unlikely to happen to the detriment of those businesses.

In consideration for the present artists Ross Potter, Ellen McCarthy, Peter Zuvela, Jenny Dawson, Greg James, Janet Nixon, Jina Lee, Lesley Barrett, and the fact that the WA Planning Commission has already ruled that a tavern is not appropriate use for the A Class Reserve, I am opposing the proposal and hope that Fremantle Council will recommend to the WAPC to reject this proposal also.

Roel Loopers

SMALL BAR PROTEST NOT ABOUT PATIENTS

 

There appears to be a bit more to the small bar protest story in Fremantle’s High Street than the initial newspaper report this morning revealed.

This is not just the case of a psychiatrist wanting to protect his patients who have drug, alcohol and suicide issues, but much more about protecting his own patch. It’s classic not in my backyard stuff.

It turns out the good doctor actually lives at the premises and works from home next to the proposed bar and he clearly does not want his evening peace disturbed.

The bar proponents tell me it will just be a tiny 50-patron bar in the cellar with table service and no outdoor area.

Living in the inner city means one has to compromise and realise there will be bars and pubs and entertainment, and a tiny bar operated by responsible operators won’t create anti-social havoc in the West End that is in dire need of  night-time activation.

To put a mental health clinic in an entertainment area is puzzling.

Roel Loopers

EASTER BOOZE BIKES

 

The WA Police gave Fremantle people and visitors an Easter surprise mid Monday morning on Marine Terrace.

It wasn’t the booze bus but three booze bikes who stopped motorists and tested them for alcohol.

Oooooh, I am over the limit? It must have been the Grand Marnier inside the Easter egg I ate earlier. ; >)

Roel Loopers

ANOTHER STABBING IN FREMANTLE

It is a crying shame that there has been another stabbing in Fremantle, this time a 17-year-old boy was stabbed just before midnight in front of a kebab shop on the Cappuccino Strip last night. Earlier this week a man who had been stabbed near the railway station died, and reports of violence in the inner city are damaging Fremantle’s reputation as a family friendly city.

My observations when walking through the CBD daily is that at daytime there is not enough police on the beat but there is good visual presence of CoF security officers, however the latter only work till early in the evening and not at night so the cops need to increase their foot patrols at night.

Violence and anti social behaviour is not something council can fix, but the City of Fremantle needs to start looking at rigorously implementing its alcohol policy and not adding more fuel to the fire by allowing more alcohol outlets.

I am not sure that I like the big billboard on Stirling Highway at all that proudly announces that Bathers Beach is the first beach in Australia where one can drink alcohol on the beach. It’s not the sort of reputation Fremantle needs.

Roel Loopers

FREO’S BATHERS FIRST WA BOOZE BEACH

The West Australian reports today that Fremantle’s Bathers Beach House is the first hospitality outlet in WA that has received a liquor license to serve alcohol on the beach. This will no doubt attract criticism from those who believe beaches should remain public spaces and not be leased to commercial operators, but I believe it is a good step forward for our nanny state to catch up with European standards on this issue.

What I don’t like is the awful metal steps that have been added to the timber deck that is part of the heritage interpretation of the area and it is disappointing the City of Fremantle did not insist on timber steps in character with the boardwalk.

That brings me to the issue of locals complaining that people who use the Mortuary area for weddings and functions close off the boardwalk to the public. That should not be allowed.

Roel Loopers

IT’S WEIGH TOO DANGEROUS!

Is this really the right location for a new bar in Fremantle? The awkward roundabout-like intersection of Phillimore, Cliff and Fleet streets is very difficult for pedestrians, especially the thousands of overseas visitors, to negotiate and I weekly witness cars driving against one way arrows in the wrong direction.

I use the intersection daily as a motorist and as a pedestrian so I am talking long-time experience and observation here!

The PTA considers the application for a small, 75 patrons, bar inappropriate for the old weighbridge station as it is only 30 metres away from the container freight line to Fremantle Port.

The plan for a bar was conditionally approved last year with a 15-year lease for the 1897 weighbridge location.

The intersection is also earmarked for a drastic upgrade as part of the Victoria Quay development plans, so would these plans be in jeopardy if a 15-year lease is granted by the City of Fremantle?

Roel Loopers

THE MONK WANTS TO BECOME A TAVERN

 

The MONK Brewery on the Cappuccino Strip is applying for a change in license from restaurant to tavern, and I wonder if Fremantle Council will use their alcohol policy to reject the proposal or allow yet another venue in central Fremantle which main target is to sell as much alcohol as possible. Contrary to a restaurant license a tavern license does not require patrons to eat a meal while having a drink.

South Terrace already has the Norfolk, Sail&Anchor and Newport hotels, plus Benny’s Bar, two nightclubs and other licensed premises. Just down the road is the National Hotel and around the corner are the Strange Company and Whisper bars plus the Holy Smoke small bar in Collie Street, and also the Esplanade Hotel with two bars.

The negative anti-social impact of alcohol on society is without debate, and while no one should be a wowser about drinking, I believe the City of Fremantle does have a responsibility to look after the general public, even on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Roel Loopers