TRAFFIC BRIDGE PROCESS CROSSING THE COMMUNITY OUT

 

In a sign that the community consultation about the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge is just going to be a token gesture the State Government has already started the tender process for the design, well before the Fremantle community has expressed its opinion.

It has already been made clear by Main Roads that the community will be presented with one single option only about the location of the new bridge and that the old heritage-listed bridge will be demolished, with only 19 metres of it left at Beach Street.

Below some of the media release by Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:

Proposals to develop, design and construct a new Swan River Crossing in Fremantle are officially being sought from industry.

 The $230 million, jointly funded project will replace the deteriorated Fremantle Traffic Bridge with two new crossings that will meet future needs for road, rail, walking, cycling and boating.

 Construction is expected to start by late 2021 and will support 1,400 jobs over the life of the project.

 Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the Morrison Government is providing $115 million towards the replacement of the existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge.

 “Fremantle continues to be a bustling hub and we brought forward funds so construction on this project could kick off sooner.”

 Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the project was one of a number of major Western Australian transport projects to have procurement fast-tracked.

 “Procurement for the project has been brought forward six months earlier than initially scheduled, to support the WA economy and local jobs during the road out of COVID-19,” Ms Saffioti said.

 “Community consultation is now underway and will inform the project’s development and design to ensure we reach the best possible outcome for this significant infrastructure in Fremantle.

 “The project is being reviewed by the independent State Design Review Panel and heritage and architectural leads will form part of the alliance contract, which is anticipated to be awarded in early 2021.

 “This project will also include new and improved pedestrian and cyclist’s links boosting our Principal Shared Path network, linking Fremantle to the Perth CBD.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said the new bridge is a great opportunity to replace the 80-year-old structure with something that appeals to the community.

 “We recognise the importance of this project to the Fremantle locals, so facilitating informed and meaningful community input on the new structure is essential.

 “A number of community sessions will be rolled out in coming weeks and I encourage all interested locals to attend and have their say.”

 Main Roads is seeking an alliance contract, which will include a focus on heritage and architectural feedback received through the ongoing community consultation process.

 The $230 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, which have committed $115 million each.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE DEMANDS MORE SAY ON NEW TRAFFIC BRIDGE

 

The Fremantle community and Fremantle Council are not at all happy with Main Roads’ plans for the new traffic bridge. Main Roads announced yesterday that it will start engaging in community consultation, but that appears just to be a token gesture, as the outcome seems to be decided on already.

As I wrote after the DesignFreo bridge forum Main Roads is only interested in moving as many vehicles as possible over the bridge as fast and safe as possible and are not greatly concerned about creating great public realms for the community.

For example they are clear where the bridge will go and that the old traffic bridge will be demolished. They say a significant part of the heritage structure will be saved, but that is spin BS, because only 19 metres of the long bridge will be retained at Beach Street.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent quite recently on stabilising the bridge and protecting it with fenders and rocks in the river, so what is it going to cost to demolish the bridge in comparison to what future maintenance might cost when heavy vehicles not longer create vibration?

What will the impact of the new bridge be for North Fremantle residents in apartments only metres away from it? Or will an ugly, unsightly noise wall be built?

Mayor Brad Pettitt said “Our expectations of this process were that there would be genuine consultation over alignment options with Council wanting Main Roads to propose more than just one.

“Unfortunately the bridge plans released today appears not to meet the Fremantle Council – and I expect, community view – that there be at least two distinctly different alignment options presented in full for community and Council consideration.

“We are concerned that the proposed eastern alignment may result in a poor outcome for North Fremantle residents, for those cycling and walking, for heritage, and for creating an inviting place for people not just cars.”

There will be a meeting at the Naval Stores to start organising protests on Wednesday August 12 at 5.30pm, so if community groups and individuals want to step up please attend the meeting that is organised by Rebecca Clarkson.

 

Roel Loopers

EAST FREO WOODSIDE FOCUS GROUPS

 

 

Hall & Prior Aged Care are proposing to regenerate the former Woodside Maternity Hospital at 18 Dalgety St, East Fremantle into a world-class health and aged care community.

The development will revitalise the location for community use and amenity, and includes a full refurbishment of the Woodside heritage homestead to its former glory.

For more information visit www.WoodsideAgedCare.com.au

RSVP for a focus group by calling Joseph from Creating Communities on (08) 9284 0910 or visit; www.WoodsideAgedCare.eventbrite.com.au

Roel Loopers

COMMUNITY CABINET DEMOCRACY IN THE BURBS

 

 

It was full house at the East Fremantle Football Club on Sunday afternoon for the state Community Cabinet meeting with Premier Mark McGowan and all but two cabinet ministers.

The Premier told the crowd that he had launched the WA Covid Recovery Plan earlier in the day, and it is available on line, and that WA is the first state to do so. McGowan said that Covid-19 had been the main concern for the last five months and that when it started the National Cabinet had been told that many thousands of Australians could die, so closing the WA borders had been very successful.

The premier said there was a more rapid recovery now in WA with the government trying to get the society and economy back up again and getting confidence back across all sections of the community.

The Covid Recovery Plan would put solar panels on social housing and schools, and schools would become solar plants that would put energy back in the grid during school holidays and on weekends.

But the whole idea of the Community Cabinet is that people can ask questions, so that was done by those attending and through a live Facebook streaming.

The first question came from a very nervous high school student, but anyone who has done their first public speaking knows how nerve wracking that can be. The young lady lamented that the gym at the Melville Senior High School gets full of puddles when it rains, because the roof leaks, and pointed out Melville is one of only two schools with a dedicated netball program, which has produced many talents and professional players.

Education Minister Sue Ellery did not commit to repairing the roof, but pointed out the investments already made and future school projects, so I suppose the students and netball players can only hope that the planned new solar panels will keep the rain out of the gym.

A question about an Aboriginal cultural centre also received a non-committal response from Minister David Templeman, who said that the new Perth Museum would be outstanding and would have a significant indigenous display that will be embedded there, but there were a number of ideas explored for WA to be a world centre for indigenous culture. That would be great. Can we have it in Fremantle please!

We also learned, well, I did, that Exmouth is the first place in the world that runs totally on renewable energy, with a gas back up if it fails. “WA does renewable energy, not just talks about it.”

Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that hydrogen is the future and that significant innovative projects would start in the next five years.

Homelessness is a huge challenge, Minister Simone McGurk admitted but the new Common Ground project in Perth was a good start and a second one would be announced soon when the location was decided on. Social housing needs proper support for people to help them cope and outreach people were contacting people on the street to see what it is they need.

The Premier also mentioned that a lot of Lotterywest funding that would normally have gone to community groups and programs has to be diverted to the Covid Recovery Program.

It was an interesting and relaxed afternoon, with many familiar faces in the crowd. I quickly presented the Premier with the COVIDMAN T-shirt I had made for him by Freo T-Shirts and thanked him for keeping the WA borders closed and saving lives.

Roel Loopers

 

FREE MARKETING FOR FREMANTLE TRADERS

 

Highly experienced professional advertising copywriter and marketing expert Ingrid Waltham has joined photographers Saffi Ali and Roel Loopers by offering her services for FREE to help support Fremantle businesses who want to restart, now that the social distancing and isolation rules are slowly being relaxed.

Trader who wants to refresh or start a website or social media, or want to do an advertising campaign to promote their business, etc can contact us and we’ll pop in to do free professional photography and/or copywriting for you.

Together we have over 100 years of professional experience in the industries, so you will be in good hands with plenty of local knowledge to sell your brand.

You can check out Ingrid’s work on http://www.thewritingeditor.com.au and she can be contacted on 0411 237940 or email thewritingeditor@gmail.com

Saffi Ali can be contacetd with a PM to his Facebook page and you can contact me at roelloopers48@gmail.com

Please share this post widely in the community so that we can support as many businesses as possible in these very difficult time!

Stay safe and healthy, Freo!

Roel Loopers

LIVE STREAM COUNCIL MEETINGS DURING SOCIAL ISOLATION

 

Live streaming of Fremantle Council meetings was suggested at the annual Electors Meeting a couple of weeks ago, and the present coronavirus pandemic crisis makes a good point of introducing that sooner rather than later.

Social distancing and social isolation common sense means that most of us won’t attend council meetings any more, including this keen blogger.

Premier Mark McGowan said this morning he expects the regulations to be in place for at least six months, which is quite staggering, and will kill many businesses, and it will demand a dramatic change in how we socialise.

I would have liked to go to this Wednesday’s Council meeting and even address the elected members to express my support for the Woolstores hotel development by Silverleaf Investments, but it would be unwise to do so, as at 71 years of age I am in the high risk category and that not only means at a high risk of getting Covid-19, but should I have it, of spreading it.

We all need to adapt and local councils need to remain accountable and transparent and give the community a change to observe proceedings, so how fast can we get live streaming of council meetings?

Roel Loopers

LET’S CARE FOR EACH OTHER FREO!

 

Social distancing might be forced upon us, so we should make sure it is only physical and increase distant connection and socialising via the internet, so that we don’t feel alone, abandoned and morose.

When we are no longer comfortable going to pubs, cinemas, sporting events, etc, or when governments ban us from going there, we need to look after each other better and more often.

For some people it will be a real challenge to be home alone, for others it will put pressure on the relationship with a partner, or with the friends they share with, so let’s help each other over any anxiety and depression, especially because there is an overkill of information about the coronavirus in the media every day.

Panic buying is not just showing that a lot of people are selfish, inconsiderate and uncaring, but also that they are actually worried about the future, and if they will be able to feed themselves and their families.

Who is helping those who are forced to self isolate with shopping when some supermarkets have stopped home deliveries, who is walking the dog for them, buying medication, making sure they are alright?

What can we do to combat the loneliness and sense of isolation? We can start on line, face to face, book clubs on Facetime, Skype, etc. where we can chat and see each other, or we can just have on line social groups connecting for an hour a day, or a few times a day, to talk about a topic, share a joke and a laugh and make us feel inclusive and nurtured.

Some people are relaxed in a crisis while other get very stressed, so let’s be a real community here in Fremantle and do the Freo thing of caring, sharing and looking after those who need it most.

Let’s assure ourselves and each other that no one will starve and that there is plenty of food to feed us all, but that means being sensible and considerate and only buying what we need, not buying what we might need in two months.

Human beings are very resilient, and in a city like Fremantle we know that there are a huge number of people who look out for others and who really care.

Feel embraced by that spirit of community and engage more with others, check on your neighbours, friends, colleagues and family, especially if they live alone, no matter what their age is.

We all want to feel loved, be safe, and wanted, and we all need a bit of a hug, now even more so than normally, even if that can’t be a physical hug.

Let us show that mateship is not just an urban myth, but that we really care!

Roel Loopers

 

FREMANTLE WINS SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE!

The City of Fremantle’s outstanding customer service has been recognised with a major award at the Australian Institute of Management WA Pinnacle Awards.

The City’s customer service team last week took out The West Australian Customer Service Excellence Award, which provides recognition for an organisation that has achieved outstanding results through key initiatives that demonstrate leadership and commitment to excellence in customer service.

Entry to the award was open to all organisations across the corporate, government, community and not-for-profit sectors in Australia that have a significant footprint in Western Australia.

Customer Service Manager Jay Ellis said the award was deserved recognition for the City’s dedicated customer service team.

“At the end of the day the role of a local government is to provide services to its residents and ratepayers, so the guys at reception or in the call centre who are the first point of contact with the public are really important,” Mr Ellis said.

“Everyone knows how frustrating it is to be waiting on hold for ages or to never be called back, so over the past two years we’ve worked really hard across the whole organisation to review our processes and update our systems to make sure requests and inquiries from the public are followed up and acted upon quickly and efficiently.

“As consequence we’re now seeing some fantastic results and are delivering a first class customer service experience.

“To win this Pinnacle award, which covers not just local governments but the state government, corporate and community sectors as well, is deserved recognition for our incredibly committed customer service team and the whole organisation.”

To improve our customer service the City of Fremantle has implemented a number of measures such as redesigning our website, introducing phone answering standards and streamlining procedures for responding to enquiries.

As a result customer surveys over the past two years have seen satisfaction with the City of Fremantle’s customer service increase from 70 to 94 per cent.

Call wait times have been reduced from one minute to 10 seconds, and call volumes have gone down by 13.5 per cent because more callers are getting their query dealt with straight away and aren’t needing to call back.

If you have a query regarding City of Fremantle services you can call us on 1300 MYFREO (1300 693 736) or email on info@fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Roel Loopers

CAN WE GET CONSENSUS ABOUT NEW NAME FOR KINGS SQUARE?

 

Does Fremantle’s Kings Square need a new name, an Aboriginal name, a dual name? Most Councillors had something to say about it, with Councillor Doug Thompson being quite ambivalent about it. Whatever the outcome it has to be after a long and intense public community consultation process they all agreed.

The name  Midgegooroo, the father of Yagan, had been suggested and some elected members scoffed at the criticism that the Aboriginal elder had been accused of murder, with one Councillor saying we would lose half of Fremantle’s street names if we excluded people who had killed others.

Teachers had asked Councillors how their students could become involved in suggesting a new name for our city square, and it was important to open up the reconciliation conversation and take it outside Council and to the community, where we could expect a large diversity of suggestions.

Councillor Marija Vujcic said the terms of reference for community participation needed to be defined as inclusion was the key principle, while Mayor Brad Pettitt said they needed to make sure to get it right and have a robust debate about it in the community.

The name Walyalup civic centre was approved as the name for the new building at Kings Square as that had been one of the outcomes of the Walyalup Reconciliation Action Plan(WRAP), but Councillor Marija Vujcic said that was not a mandate and questioned the community consultation.

Councillor Hannah Fitzhardinge pointed out that the WRAP working group, of which I was a member, was not just Aboriginal people. She is right. There were about 100 people with different backgrounds and professions, and support agencies, including WA police, St Pat’s, etc and about 35 Aboriginal people at this extensive community process.

Fact is that there will be dozens of suggestions for a new name for Kings Square and many who will want it to remain Kings Square or go back to St John’s Square, after that it will still have to be a Council decision what the new name will be, so is it going to be a lottery, tossing a coin, suggesting a small number of names and let the community vote on it? But the latter would still be controversial as it will be impossible to get community consensus about a new name for our city square, and anything else for that matter.

How many people can councils realistically involve in the community consultation process about anything? Fact is that most people care little about what goes on in local government, as the low voter participation at elections clearly shows, so when do Councillors have a mandate to decide on anything? I thought the outcome of elections was the mandate for elected members. We elect them to make decisions on behalf of the community.

Roel Loopers

 

 

FREMANTLE LOOKING FOR NEW VISITOR CENTRE IDEAS

 

The City of Fremantle will undertake an Expression of Interest(EOI) for a new tourist Visitor Centre somewhere in the inner city. It is seeking ideas and concepts for the development and delivery of an innovative and world class visitor centre model for Fremantle, but this can only be at no additional cost to the city above the current operating levels.

It is interesting to note here that the City states the Visitor Centre needs to be in the inner city at street level, when I for one assumed a significant space for the Visitor Centre would have been allocated already in the new under construction Civic Centre at Kings Square, which to me seems the most logical and practical location for a Visitor Centre.

The City is hoping to achieve a world class Visitor Centre that will have a significantly improved servicing model, but ideally at less than or comparable with the current operating costs, because the City’s 10 year financial plan has no additional allocation over and above the current funding.

One thing Fremantle Council needs to prioritise with urgency is to maintain and repair one of our City’s most significant tourist destinations and historic site Arthur’s Head and the Roundhouse, that are in a state of disrepair and an absolute disgraceful eyesore.

Roel Loopers