Fremantle, The Waterfront & Helsinki

Fremantle desperately needs the Victoria Quay waterfront.

Connecting the business heart of Fremantle CBD to an active and attractive Victoria Quay waterfront is key to the future vitality and prosperity of the city.

People, from everywhere, locals, interstate and international tourists want to enjoy the waterside experience. Its just human nature!

I wrote an Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors before 5e recent elections identifying the opportunity to create the shortest and most direct pedestrian link from the town centre to the harbour waterfront via the beautiful landmark Fremantle railway station.

Such a connection offers the best access and opportunity for high value waterview activities on the quayside …. hospitality, culture, entertainment and of course the Rotto ferry terminus properly linked to a revamped Fremantle bus/rail station.

Hopefully the new Mayor and Council, business and State players can get their heads together and get things moving?

In writing again on the issue, I am reminded of visiting some Scandinavian port cities that have successfully addressed their waterfronts and I thought it might be inspirational to see how attractive and engaging their harboursides can be.

Credit Wikipedia

These are good illustrations of pleasant waterfront spaces from Helsinki. Compare these with today’s harbour cam view of Victoria Quay north of the station to the quayside … just a barren carpark wasteland!