WA GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR FREO MAYOR

 

 

WA Housing Minister Peter Tinley strongly endorsed Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt and his council at the Housing and the Future event at the Moores building last night.

Tinley urged people to “Vote for Brad!” saying the success of Fremantle’s urban infill was a fundamental guide for the government to use as an example in W.A.

The Minister said that Fremantle Council has lead the change in the metropolitan area with their strategic planning for revitalisation.

The Housing Minister said it was essential for the government to partner with the private industry to offer a diverse range of housing options, and that Housing was a $ 14.5 billion agency that delivered social outcomes.

Tinley said there was a “structural disconnect with affordability” and that 44 per cent of four-bedroom homes have just a single occupant. He said it was important for future planning to consider what the built form contributed to the community.

REIWA President Hayden Groves surprisingly expressed that the urban sprawl was no longer sustainable and said real estate transactions had dropped from 71,000 in 2006 to only 31,000 last year.

He said REIWA was trying to create greater revenue resources for the government through property, and that the bottom of the cycle was here and the real estate market was more stable.

Affordability was a problem, Groves said, with low income earners priced out of the market. The private property sector also needed  to take responsibility for that, not just governments.

The REIWA President said that changes to negative gearing were a problem because it removed the incentives for investors.

Government support for first home buyers needed to be adapted as it supported the urban sprawl, Groves claimed, and that Labor’s Metronet was a fabulous policy.

It is important to offer affordable rent, as well as affordable housing and the Fremantle WGV and Nightingale developments were great.

Mayor Brad Pettitt, introduced as Dad by the MC, said Fremantle Council was passionate about housing, but it was hard for young people to live in the city. It was important to match up people through diversity and affordability and getting the mix right.

He said inner city residents were estimated to increase by 40 per cent by 2070. At present only 721 people live in the CBD. “Fremantle’s problem is that there are not enough people here.” But we are on the cusp of being a more vibrant city with more people living here, Pettitt told the crowd of developers, architects, politicians and real estate agents.

During the Q&A Minister Peter Tinley said that properties were only affordable once-the first time-after that they returned to the market and often become unaffordable.

Mayor Brad Pettitt said that stamp duty was a disincentive to downgrade for older people, and that the State Government should reward those councils who are doing infill, through investment in their infrastructure.

Pettitt said it could be frustrating for local governments to deal with the State, and it had taken 18 months to get a Planning Scheme Amendment approved.

Peter Tinley said that Metronet was the centrepiece of WA’s infrastructure and housing and transport were working together in steering committees. We need to know who the people are who are going to live near near train stations and public transport hubs, because it is all about the communities we create, not just about living in concrete boxes.

In reply to a question from the floor it was disappointing to feel that housing for people with a disability appears to have been put in the hard basket. Accessibility and adaptability were real challenges, the Minister said.

I was surprised to hear that one in five people in WA have a disability. That is not a minority group, so governments need to do a whole lot better to cater for them!

REIWA President Hayden Groves said he is trying to change REIWA’s thinking, as they felt threatened by urban infill up to now, but that was changing as the urban infill was not sustainable and cost too much in infrastructure. It was important for the governments to give incentives for people who wanted to down-size, or right-size as it is now called.

Housing and the Future was a good begin of a very important dialogue we need to have. I believe a more substantial forum on housing should be initiated after all the election hype is over.

 

Roel Loopers

 

 

 

THE FUTURE OF HOUSING FREO FORUM

There is an interesting forum Housing and the Future
 on at the Fremantle Moore&Moore cafe in Henry Street this Thursday August 31 at 5.30 pm.

The diversity and affordability of housing is something that needs to be revisited by state and local governments, and the way the government supplies social housing as well, so this will be a good forum to participate in.

The forum features WA Minister Peter Tinley, the Member for Willagee,  Hayden Groves, President of the Real Estate Institute of WA, and Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt.

Tickets are $ 50.00. Finger food, beer, wine and soft drink included.

Click on the link below for more info.

https://bradforfreo.tidyhq.com/public/schedule/events/15525-housing-and-the-future

 

Roel Loopers

BE PART OF FREMANTLE’S BRIGHT FUTURE

 

 

There is a lot of hot air in politics, and one-eyed blinkered judging of the other’s failures and one’s own greatness. In local politics one can add parochial polemic to it that is not helpful to get a balanced view of the facts.

It becomes understandable why many people don’t really now what is going on in Fremantle, because for some it is all positive while for others it is mostly negative.

I prefer facts over fake news, misinformation, and political point scoring.

It is often good to hear the opinion of out of towners and see how they assess the performance of Fremantle Council, as the promotion for a sundowner does.

According to the poster for an event of the Property Council of Australia with Mayor Brad Pettitt and Deputy Mayor Ingrid Waltham, Fremantle is undergoing its biggest revitalisation with unprecedented levels of public and private investment underway.

The PCOA also writes Most importantly, find out about the current and imminent investment opportunities. Be part of Fremantle now as its future is bright.

The Sundowner is on Friday July 28 from 3.30-5.30 pm at the Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre. It costs $ 135.00 for non-members and $ 90.00 for members.

 

Roel Loopers

FREO NEEDS FAMILY FRIENDLY DEVELOPMENT

 

Interesting to read that there is an increasing demand for big 3-4 bedroom apartments by people who want to down-size from a house to a unit.

There is and oversupply of small 1-2 bedroom apartments in the Perth metropolitan area and some planned projects have been put on hold or cancelled because supply well exceeds demand in these difficult economic times.

The demand is for extra and larger living spaces for families and also for the 3rd or 4th bedroom to be used as a home office.

I believe this is relevant for Fremantle where new residential apartments don’t appear to cater for singles and couple, but not for families.

Freo is a family city and we love kids and it would be a shame if new infill development did exclude families because the units are too small and not family friendly.

 

Roel Loopers

Baugruppen at WGV Induction Event

 

6pm to 7.30pm Monday 17 July 2017

at the Fremantle Fibonacci Centre in Blinco Street.  www.baugruppen.com.au

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Join host Josh Byrne, Principal, Josh Byrne & Associates.

View the latest plans, feel and touch the materials boards, see internal and external artist impressions.

Select your preferred home type and location within the development, your parking requirements, and other preferences including lift.

Talk to members of the project team, dedicated to the success of your development and ready to assist:

• Michael Patroni, spaceagency architects (2016 AIA multi-residential award winners)
• Hayden Groves, dethridgeGroves real estate (Principal, President of REIWA)
• Phil Gnech, Builtform development managers (Principal, Registered Builder and Project Manager)
• Geoffrey London, The University of Western Australia (Professor of Architecture, former Government Architect)
• Warren Phillips, LandCorp (Senior Development Manager, WGV and the Fremantle Knutsford Project)

Become a pioneering “citizen developer” to deliver the first baugruppen in Australia, pave the way for more sustainable and higher quality housing.

The potential savings on homes developed by the building group range from approximately $50,000 to $100,000 when compared to market.

Features:

1. Zero agent’s fees and zero marketing budgets

2. Zero profits payable to investor/developers

3. Customisation of your home and personal consultation with the architects

4. By developing with future owner-occupiers, with sustainability in mind, the group will be able to ensure their new homes are suitable for their long-term needs with lower living costs

5. The baugruppen will be the heart of the WGV Eco Village, WA’s first One Planet Community, globally recognised for urban design and leading sustainability initiatives

6. Be part of an instant community within the baugruppen, the WGV eco village and the White Gum Valley community renowned for its creativity/artists, urban orchard, street festivals and events held throughout the year

7. Enjoy shared private spaces as well as public spaces beautifully designed by Josh Byrne & Associates featuring work by local artists (SHAC) and the Fremantle Mens Shed organisation

8. Short walk to cafe, convenience store, WGV primary school, WGV community orchard, parks/picnic areas, and a walk or ride to Fremantle town centre, the new Fremantle College, and various shopping precincts

By joining with others to develop the Baugruppen at WGV, you are choosing community, amenity, and healthy, happy and sustainable living.

The Baugruppen at WGV is an intiative of LandCorp and The University of Western Australia.

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NOT A MATCH FOR FREMANTLE

 

It appears that the MATCH Group have quietly postponed or abandoned their plans to develop the former Energy Museum site in Fremantle’s Parry Street.

All the signs to promote the mixed development of residential and commercial accommodation have been removed from the building’s facade.

Plans were for a four-storey residential new building behind the old one and the former museum transferred into a Bread in Common style restaurant and bar and other retail on street level.

While the delay is disappointing it is also understandable as there is a lot of apartment development happening in Fremantle and the Heirloom by Match building still has apartments for sale.

Real estate experts say their is a glut of apartments in the Perth metro area and an oversupply of them, so developers will probably have a bit of a wait and see attitude to see where the market is heading before realising plans that already have been approved.

Roel Loopers

LIV AND LET LIVE

 

The LIV apartment development by Defence Housing in Fremantle’s east end is fast taking shape as these photos taking from Quarry Street show.

The building is opposite the recently opened Heirloom apartments so it will substantially add to the activation and beautification of the area.

Roel Loopers

POPULAR FREMANTLE AUCTION

 

 

There was quite a bit of interest this morning at the  auction for the building on the corner of Marine Terrace and Cliff Street in Fremantle.

It is a beautiful building opposite the Shipwreck Museum and one minute away from Bathers Beach.

But I did not win the Lotto jackpot again on Thursday. ; >(

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE SHOULD PENALISE DEVELOPMENT DELAYS

The continuing delay of the development of the Hilton Doubletree hotel on the Fremantle Point Street carpark site and the delay of settlement of the Spicer site at Henderson Street raises questions about the contracts the City of Fremantle signs with developers.

It is nice to have a clause in the Hilton sales contract that stipulates the City can buy back the site if development does not happen within a certain period, but it is totally useless as Fremantle is not in a financial position to buy back the Point Street property, and anyway, what to do with it then?

The delay of the Kings Square project meant that valuable revenue from the Queensgate carpark was lost to the COF and the delay of settlement with Sirona Capital of the Spicer property also means that Fremantle will have to wait till they get paid for it, when the City’s coffers are very empty.

Would it not be better to include penalties for delays, let’s say $ 10,000 per week, as that would be a clear message that Fremantle wants and needs development now and not sometime down the track when the Hilton developers have built three other hotels in Perth first.

Money is a great incentive to get things done fast and buy-back clauses are unrealistic when the City of Fremantle does not have the money for it.

Roel Loopers

FREMANTLE’S SOCIALIST DEVELOPMENT

 

The LIV Defence Housing residential development at Fremantle’s Queen Victoria and Quarry streets is well under way and will be a great addition to the east end of the CBD.

I find it rather cute that people on the right side of politics keep accusing Fremantle Council of being socialists when this council has done more in thirty years to attract very capitalist development to our city than previous councils.

While some of the new development is disappointing and mediocre it will do Fremantle’s economy and traders a lot of good in the near future to have three new hotels and very substantial residential and commercial development that will bring thousands more people living in the inner city and thousands more working in the CBD.

It will be fantastic for the hospitality and retail industries to have hundreds of tourists staying overnight in Fremantle and shop, dine and drink here, and having locals and students roaming the streets day and night will make it a safer and more lively place.

Roel Loopers