VOTER APATHY A REAL WORRY

It amazes me that after years of reading and hearing complaints about Fremantle and other local councils, the voter participation in the Perth metropolitan area is very low. Do people really believe it is enough to whinge, bleat, attack and worry about their Council in newspapers and on talk back radio, but not vote?

Voting is a democratic right, and it is a privilege that we should be grateful for. We can have a say about who will represent us at the true grassroots level of government like local council, so why don’t people vote. It is only a matter of making a tick on the ballot paper, sign and date the envelope and sticking it in a post box, so surely that should not be too much to ask.

In Fremantle only 4,092 people out of 20,227 eligible voters have voted so far and that is just 20,29%. That is very disappointing I believe. In contrast 53.25% of people voted in the country town of Cue. Still not great but a whole lot better than we city folks are doing.

Postal votes have to be in by Friday October 16, so allowing for Australia Post to maybe take up to three days to deliver your envelope should be mailed latest by Tuesday. Alternatively you can still go and drop it off at the Fremantle Townhall all day till 6 pm on Saturday the 17th when the votes will be counted. VOTE! IT IS IN YOUR OWN INTEREST!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

VOTE FOR A COUNCILLOR WITH AN EYE FOR DETAIL!

The worst kept secret about Freo photographer Roel Loopers is that he loves reflections. I noticed this one in Mouat Street, Fremantle this morning.

A man with an eye for detail is absolutely perfect Councillor talent for Fremantle. Vote for me if you live in Beaconsfield and Hilton and are in the Beaconsfield Ward!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

DEVELOPMENT A GOOD MATCH FOR FREMANTLE

I am not sure at all that the residents of North Fremantle near McCabe Street are going to like this, but the headquarters of the Mediterranean Shipping Company at 15 McCabe Street is for sale. The real estate agent says the 1690 sqm. site has “significant redevelopment appeal” so maybe the locals there are in for another battle to stop highrise buildings in the area.

The MSC staff will relocate to their new building in Cliff Street later this year, and that is a welcome development for the West End of Fremantle and no doubt good for the cafes along High Street.

Another development will be going ahead in the centre of Fremantle soon, with Council giving approval to the Match group to redevelop the former Energy Museum site at Parry Street.

The heritage-listed building will be developed into a Bread in Common-style food and beverage venue and behind it a four-storey apartment building will be built that will house forty 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. I hope the apartment building will compliment the heritage building with good matching design and not negatively overshadow it.

I am not sure if the initial idea to also have a micro brewery on site has been dropped after protest from residents and St Patrick’s so stay tuned.

I believe a Bread in Common style venue would be great for the East of the CBD and will become a real attraction for the hundreds of people who will move into the area once the Heirloom development is finished in 2017. It would fit in well with the Hilton hotel development, the upgrade of Princess May Park and new tenants for the former FTI building.

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and published by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

A VOTE FOR ROEL IS A POSITIVE VOTE FOR FREO!

If you have not received your ballot papers for the Local Government Election yet you should receive it this week, so PLEASE VOTE! It is essential for the Fremantle community to elect the people they believe will make a positive difference to the future of our city.

I will bring realism, common sense, creativity, balance, fairness and independence to Council if elected and will work hard toward genuine and better community consultation. I want Council to concentrate on local governance for local people and local businesses.

Fremantle needs to grow and prosper but it needs to retain its unique character and identity and protect its stunning heritage precincts. Good modern development is essential and so is the right mix so we can accommodate families, singles, young and old, poor and wealthy, creative and conservative. We pride ourselves on Freo’s multiculturalism and our creative industries so we need to look after them better and support them.

A vote for ROEL LOOPERS is a positive photo for the entire Fremantle community, so when you live in Beaconsfield and Hilton you could be in the Beaconsfield Ward I am standing for. VOTE FOR ME! VOTE NOW! DON’T FORGET!

Roel Loopers

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162

ARTHUR HEAD VANDALISM SIGN OF WORSE TO COME

What a shame to see that idiots vandalised Arthur Head this weekend with heavy wooden tables and benches thrown down the rock face, walls defaced with stupid tags, etc.

Arthur Head has become the preferred destination for those who believe anti-social behaviour is a way of life and who take drugs, get drunk, shoot up and leave a stinking mess behind them. All this is happening because Fremantle Council insisted the historic area had to become the Bathers Beach Art Precinct and long term tenants such as the Port Pilots, the Crooks family and the Fremantle Society were evicted to make way for art studios.

Fremantle City was warned that they would create a ghost town and attract undesirable people because no one would live at and look after Arthur Head at night, and even at daytime most art galleries are only open for a few days a week, but they ignored that.

While Fremantle Council signed off on a responsible alcohol policy it also approved a booze barn and outdoor music venue for 1500 patrons at Arthur Head, although everyone in the West End of town is in uproar about it.

Police figures show that 35 per cent more people were barred from licensed premises in Perth metro than last year because of violent and anti-social behaviour, but the City of Fremantle allows a large new tavern in a heritage tourist area, and adds another alcohol event with the Corona beer festival on South Beach.

Fremantle residents, workers and visitors no longer feel safe in Fremantle because there are too many unsavoury people who are abusive and drunk and who use foul language unsuitable for families who might want to spend time in Freo.

I keep hearing at Council that events put Freo on the world map, but do we really want Freo on a world map that is connected to massive sales of alcohol and the promotion of it to young people? Is that really where we want to position the brand Fremantle?

Why does the City of Fremantle not encourage alcohol-free and under 18 concerts when it keeps telling us they want to support and promote a youth culture in our city? The Esplanade Youth Plaza attracts many young people and is a great success, and I have not yet seen a drunk or drug affected person there. It shows young people do not need booze to have a good time.

Arthur Head has got a lot worse since residents and harbour pilots were forced to leave and it will get a  lot lot worse once it attracts 1500 alcohol and drug filled people to live concerts there.

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Witten and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

SEE YOU ALL AT THE GROWERS GREEN ON SUNDAY!

The best hangover cure after the disappointing Fremantle Dockers finals loss to Hawthorn is a Sunday morning with the community at the delightful GROWERS GREEN FARMERS MARKET. Besides great fresh fruit and vegetables and the great atmosphere you’ll also have the chance to meet some of your candidates for the Fremantle Council election.

In between shopping, drinking coffee and having breaky wander over to my ROEL FOR FREO! stall and say G’day. I hear East Ward Councillor Ingrid Waltham will also be there, and the last two weekends I noticed Hilton candidate Sam Donovan and South Ward candidate Andrew Luobikis there, so catch up with any of us and tell us what changes you would like to see at Council. I think I might also have glimpsed South Ward Councillor Jon Strachan last week, unless he has a double.

See you all at the GG this Sunday!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

VOTE ROEL LOOPERS FOR BEACONSFIELD!

Received your ballot papers yet? I got mine on Friday and its already on its way back, so DON’T FORGET TO VOTE for the Fremantle Council election!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

MORE GREEN SPACE PRIORITY WITH FREO DEVELOPMENT

Nice to see the Fremantle Herald today reporting on the percentage for green space idea I have, to make sure that we will have ample public open spaces among all the new planned development in Fremantle. People living in apartments, office workers, hotel visitors and tourists all will want to enjoy green relaxation nodes with creative seating, trees and shade structures, so I believe it is important to put that in Freo’s planning policies.

Also great to feel appreciated and get the support of Little High Street residents who put some election signs on their apartment.

Ballot papers should be arriving from today so PLEASE DO VOTE, as Councillor Ingrid Waltham also promotes in a letter to the Herald today, and embrace your democratic right to elect the person who you believe will represent you and Fremantle best.

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers of 5 Maxwell Street, Beaconsfield 6162.

PRINCESS MAY PARK MASTERPLAN ON DISPLAY

The City of Fremantle will hold a community consultation session on site at Princess May Park this Saturday to show the draft Masterplan for the area. It will be at the back of Clancy’s from 10-12 am, so just in time to stay on and have lunch at Freo’s great family pub.

The Princess May Park heritage precinct is on the cusp of development and community activation with the start of the Hilton hotel building very soon and a lot of building activity to the East of it along Queen Victoria, Quarry and Beach streets. The former Energy Museum site is also destined for development, so it is essential to integrate the Masterplan with traffic management along there as the intersection at Parry and Adelaide Street is a pretty awful one.

Go and have a look, have your say, put a written submission to Council and be pro-active. There is little use complaining when the horse has bolted so be creative and part of the solution!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written and authorised by Roel Loopers. 5 Maxwell Street. Beaconsfield 6162.

THE VERY FREO GROWERS GREEN FARMERS MARKET

The absolutely lovely and very Freo GROWERS GREEN FARMERS MARKET is on again this Sunday from 8 am till midday so join the Fremantle community for a relaxing family morning and buy some fresh produce and great food.

There will be live music, Damian’s animal touch farm, face painting and Fairy Sandie, lots and lots of yummy breakfast and coffee, etc. It’s just a great place to hang out on a Sunday morning and catch up with friends, network a bit, see some amazing dogs and just chill. I love it and will be there of course!

Roel Loopers

ROEL FOR FREO! Beaconsfield Ward. Truly Independent.

Written an authorised by Roel Loopers. 5 Maxwell Stree. Beaconsfield 6162.