THERE ARE NO SIMPLE PORT SOLUTIONS

 

 

About one hundred people turned up at the North Fremantle community hall on Tuesday evening to ask questions about the future of Fremantle Port, which were answered by Nicole Lockwood, the chair of the Westport Taskforce, Ports CEO Chris Leatt-Hayter, Curtin university professor Peter Newman and Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt.

In the audience were also members from the Fremantle Inner City Residents Association and Fremantle Society president John Dowson, as well as Fremantle Councillors Jones, Archibald and Sullivan.

Nicole Lockwood told us that the so-called Blue Highway of putting containers on barges to ship them to Kwinana was very common all around the world. It is option 3 on the  shortlist.

It does not matter if the government selected the Roe 8 or Leach Highway options because both are flawed as the problem of the last mile to cross the river and getting freight into port was the problematic one that has not been resolved.

But it will take at least ten years to do anything new at all, and in the meantime we should be getting a new traffic bridge with a dedicated freight rail line on it.

Chris Leatt-Hayter said that Fremantle Ports is supportive of the Westport Taskforce and that it is a rigorous, fair and sound process. Fremantle Port could handle ships of up to 350 metres long and that were the biggest ones coming to Australia currently.

Leatt-Hayter said that the same number of trucks came to the port now as they did ten years ago, because many more containers were transported by rail and fewer trucks came or left empty.

The Port do not take the community for granted and try to minimise the impact of their operations. It has 78% support from the community to continue the Freo working port!

Mayor Brad Pettitt said that the working port is very much part of Fremantle’s identity and who we are and that it is good for our economy and provides thousands of port related jobs, but what happens on land needs to be managed as it impacts on the community. The shift onto rail is the key. “We want to keep the working port as long as we can.”

Professor Peter Newman wants the ASAP solution of having a new port in Kwinana as soon as possible because he believes litheum exports will substantially increase the number of containers.”We need a new technology port.”

The Q&A did not have many specific North Fremantle questions but Leatt-Hayter said that freight on rail had issues because it goes right past the Roundhouse and close to residential apartments.

Nicole Lockwood said a tunnel is far more problematic in the Perth region and even more so at the river mouth and that putting trains through a tunnel would mean they end up somewhere near Rottnest because of the gradient. Cost efficiency was also a major factor.

Aboriginal woman Corina Abrahams said that there was not enough concern for the cultural heritage and that we should not ruin Cockburn Sound. Common sense needs to prevail.

One community speaker said the solution was a dedicated lane for autonomous trucks that could run 24/7 and would create a lot less noise than the diesel trucks.

Nicole Lockwood said the state government needed to do two things at once; planning for the long term and improving for the short term. Significant investment would be needed in the next ten years with at least six major projects to improve the Fremantle Port operations, including widening Curtin Avenue. “Perth just does not have enough river crossings.”

North Freo resident Anne Forma said there had been a lot of talk and a lot of plans but nothing had happened and that the 2010 plans could have been implemented by now. “Investment in Fremantle Port is not a long term solution.”

Roel Loopers

PARKING DELAYS NEW NORTH FREO BAR

 

The application for a small bar/cafe and fashion outlet in North Fremantle took 50 minutes of time at the Fremantle Planning Committee,  with residents and traders arguing that there was a shortage of parking in the area and hence a new bar would not be sustainable.

The application is not for a new development but for a change of use of the old church building that has been an antique shop, a surf shop and a cafe. The place would open 15 hours a day and seven days a week, so would attract more daytime visitors

Some Councillors agreed that parking was an issue for the new business but other elected members said parking was not provided by other traders in the street, such as Mojo and Propellor and that parking was not a planning issue but a strategic planning issue for the council.

The idea that parking could be provided at the bowling club was supported by some but not by others, and I for one don’t like the idea of asking inebriated people to cross very busy Stirling Highway to get there.

At the end the Planning Committee voted on a motion by Councillor Bryn Jones to defer the item to full council in three weeks. I doubt that the parking issues will be resolved by then.

Roel Loopers

NORTH FREO COMMUNITY DAY ON SATURDAY

 

The NORTH FREO COMMUNITY DAY is on this Saturday August 3 at Gilbert Fraser oval from midday till 5pm.

Go and enjoy some community fun with food trucks, jumping castle, petting zoo, face painting, cake stall, footy games, and more.

Roel Loopers

WONDERFUL NORTH FREO DOG PHOTO

 

Photo by Mark Bailey

 

Loyal Freo’s View reader Mark Bailey sent me this photo he took of a dog on the jetty near the Gilbert Fraser oval in North Fremantle.

The shot of the dog looking out over the Swan River is too cute not to share around. Well done Mark!

 

Roel Loopers

GILBERT FRASER OVAL UPGRADE

 

 

I went and had a look at the recent work the City of Fremantle did at the Gilbert Fraser Oval grandstand in North Fremantle and all I can say is that there is a lot of metal fencing.

Not at all sure that I like it.

Also completed and ready to finally hand over to the ENKEL group is the former Naval Stores building at Cantonment Hill.

Roel Loopers

 

NORTH FREO GROWING CHANGE COMMUNITY FARM TODAY!

 

Dr Noel Nannup, Noongar Elder, storyteller & cultural guide, will be opening the North Fremantle Community Farm at Thompson Road farm with a special Welcome Ceremony this Saturday Morning, March 23. He’ll be sharing his amazing cultural wisdom and insights on healing plants and places.

Hannah Tarrant, Notre Dame Uni PhD Candidate, will talk about her research on the impact of social farming on mental wellbeing. And the social programs we’re running this year for young people aged 18-25 years. And…

Ezereve, who has the voice of an angel will be serenading the community gardeners and visitors. She is a passionate social justice advocate and plays all over Perth including singing with the Perth Symphony Orchestra.

9 am : Farm open to the community
10 am : Welcome by Dr Noel Nannup
10.15 am : Introduction and overview of plans by Dylan Smith
10.20 am : Social farming for wellbeing PhD project overview with Hannah Tarrant
10.30 am : Live music by Ezereve, morning tea available for purchase, chat with the new farm crew and share your ideas and suggestions for the future
12.00 : Farm event finishes

There will be a number of stations set up people can visit and find out more about the North Freo community’s plans for Growing Change  where visitors can share their thoughts about social impact, workshops and venue use, growing, site design, business and events.

BYO picnic rugs, chairs, snacks, hats and covered shoes, and your beautiful mind brimming with ideas.

Roel Loopers

NORTH FREMANTLE COMMUNITY NOT HAPPY WITH GROWING PORT

 

The North Fremantle community is not happy that Fremantle Council is officially supporting a continuation of a working Fremantle Port.

Ann Forma and Gerard MacGill of the North Fremantle Community Association have published a paper scrutinising facts and criticising new plans and the lack of consideration given to the impact a growing container port will have on local residents.

Forma and MacGill question why Fremantle Council have pre-empted the outcome of the Westport Taskforce by stating it wants “To retain and if possible expand this economic activity into the future, the inner harbour should be retained in the long term as an operating port.”

A Port study in 1991 already asked if the port will still be adequate in 30 years, and if not if it could be adapted or should a new port be constructed, and if so, where?

In 2005 Fremantle Ports’ preferred future was an overflow container port on an artificial island at Navel Base, south of Henderson.

The leases for DP World and Patrick’s at North Quay expire at the end of June this year, according to the NFCA report, but the preferred option of Fremantle Ports is to sign new seven-year leases with the stevedores, which would have the option of two future seven-year period extensions, so for a total of 21 years, ending in 2040.

The North Fremantle Community Association  paper states that the North Fremantle community paid a big price over the last 50 years with the ever-increasing port activities, but that the social and environmental impacts have never been properly assessed.

Roel Loopers

The NFCA report in full here:

Fremantle Ports Container Terminal History and Future

FREO PORT BEACH REPAIRS START TODAY

 

 

Remediation works starting today will ensure that Port Beach in North Fremantle, one of Fremantle’s most popular beaches, will be back to its best in time for summer.

Severe storms in May this year caused significant erosion at Port Beach, washing away beach access paths and undermining parts of the southern car park.

Since then the City of Fremantle has been working to repair the access paths, monitoring the dunes and reinforcing the revetment wall in front of the car park.

Parks and Landscapes manager Ryan Abbott said the works starting today will complete the remediation of the car park and also add a new pedestrian walkway and fencing.

“The erosion over winter was quite significant, but over the past few months the natural changes in the weather and coastal conditions have seen the sand build up again and beach is looking great,” Mr Abbott said.

“There are about 40 parking bays at Port Beach that have been fenced off for safety reasons after they were undermined in the storms.

“The works the City will be undertaking over the next few weeks will remove the undermined sections of the car park, provide for additional dune establishment and install a new walkway and fencing.

“The works are expected to take about two weeks, so provided the weather is kind we’ll be all done and Port Beach will be ready to go in time for summer.”

Remaining works to remove exposed remnant infrastructure and remediate beach access paths at Sandtrax beach are scheduled for completion in December.

Roel Loopers

VERY FREO MURAL IN NORTH FREMANTLE

 

 

The Old Bridge Cellars bottleshop in North Fremantle, which already has some lovely Aboriginal art on the front of the building, has added this very Freo mural on the back of the building.

Unfortunately I don’t know who the artist is so I can’t give him/her the credit they deserve. If anyone knows, please do let me know, so that I can add it here!

Roel Loopers

I have just been informed that the artist is Shaky Jakey!

STRING MUSIC FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS

 

 

Sounds like a great idea for the kids! The Stringbeans Orchestra will be at the North Fremantle Bowls Club every Thursday from 4 – 5.30pm.

It’s is for primary school students who play string instruments, or want to start it. Watch, listen and play!

Roel Loopers