Cabinet Submission By The Honorary Minister For The South Fremantle Power Station

MEMO TO CABINET

Fellow ministers – Folks – if you will permit me to be a little colloquial with you, without breaching Cabinet protocol, and indeed as we always are with Kerry and Andrew, or Twiggy and Kerry, as Andrew prefers the order of address to be, when we mingle at functions.

I’ve asked our Cabinet Secretary kindly to ensure our forthcoming meeting Agenda has an ‘Other Business’ item at the conclusion of our listed business items.

As you will all know by now, the Hon Minister for Lands and so much else, John Carey included us all on his media release mailout yesterday, Saturday, 4 March, informing us that the East Perth Power Station Project Development Deed has expired.

As you all appreciate, this means that the bromance between Kerry and Andrew/Twiggy and Kerry is officially at an end, as pretty much are our current hopes for the revitalisation of the East Perth Power Station precinct.

As the Hon Minister has advised in his media release –

* The DevelopmentWA Board has resolved not to proceed with the remaining proponent of the Koomba Kalark joint venture of Kerry and Andrew/Twiggy and Kerry for the redevelopment of the East Perth Power Station after the exclusive working period expired on 3 March 2023

* The McGowan Government is committed to the overall redevelopment of the precinct with future options to be considered.

As you all know from previous advice, as part of the McGowan Government’s commitment, $121 million has been allocated as part of de-constraining works, in preparation for redevelopment of the power station site, which includes:

* removal of gas infrastructure;

* removal of contaminated subterranean coal handling structures; and

* removal of asbestos from the power station.

As we also now know from the Hon Minister’s media release, as a State Government priority project, DevelopmentWA will now investigate a range of options to progress the revitalisation of the underutilised East Perth Power Station precinct, to deliver social and cultural benefits for all Western Australians.

I am sure, like me, you each fully concur with the Hon Minister’s comments about the old East Perth Power Station, that, and I quote (with the bolding added by me) –

“The East Perth Power Station has been an eyesore and a derelict site for more than 40 years.

“It’s no secret, the East Perth Power Station site has remained underutilised for far too long.

“Our Government is fully committed to the redevelopment of the East Perth Power Station – and as a heritage listed site, it should be transformed into a premier drawcard for the city, all Western Australians and visitors can enjoy.

“The East Perth Power Station site is at the Eastern Gateway of our city and it should be revitalised into a world-class, iconic precinct, that all Western Australians can be proud of and access.”

At our forthcoming Cabinet meeting I will refer to the unfortunate fate of the East Perth Power Station, but importantly take the opportunity, in Other Business, as Honorary Minister for South Fremantle Power Station, to remind us all of its parlous state and the need for us, collectively, to take urgent remedial action.

In short, may I submit –

* The South Fremantle Power Station has been an eyesore and a derelict site for close on 40 years.
* It’s no secret, the South Fremantle Power Station site has remained underutilised for far too long.
* Our Government should be fully committed to the redevelopment of the South Fremantle Power Station – and as a heritage listed site, it should be transformed into a premier drawcard for the city, all Western Australians and visitors to enjoy.
* The South Fremantle Power Station site is at the Western Gateway of our great cities of Fremantle and Perth and it should be revitalised into a world-class, iconic precinct, that all Western Australians can be proud of and access.

I will move that the Hon Minister for Lands be entrusted with carrying forward not only the revitalisation of the East Perth Power Station precinct but also the South Fremantle Power Station precinct.

May I add, that I am indebted to the Editor of Fremantle Shipping News for his tireless efforts to bring the state of the South Fremantle Power Station not only to the public eye, but to the attention of our Cabinet. His articles, commencing with A Crime of Two Centuries, I have found to be required reading.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

WHILE YOU’RE HERE –