Rarely a Dull Moment - Vic Hall Sale, Shark Net at Bathers, Traffic & Streets

A very lovely, rainy hello to you, too, Shippees!

Where oh where was the 24 July RADM last month, you ask?

Well, I was off having a gander at another port city and enjoying the nice, soupy air of Hong Kong at 84% humidity. That’s on a dry day. It’ll get up to 90% while staying at 30+ degrees Celsius. A few degrees hotter and that’s very dangerous for human beings, indeed. Far too hot for watching Council meetings. But aside from that, it was absolutely lovely for a little getaway.

Back to Fremantle matters, however. Here’s what transpired (or perspired? Sorry) at the latest meeting.

PROPOSED SALE OF VICTORIA HALL

Readers might remember we first reported on this in February, and then again in April when Council commenced the EOI – Expression of Interest – process to dispose of the Victoria Hall from its portfolio and to assist the current tenants – the Fremantle Theatre Company – in finding a new venue once it’s sold.

Victoria Hall, 179 High Street, Fremantle, 2024. Credit Fremantle Shipping News

On 24 July, after a protracted discussion publicly and confidentially, Council unanimously resolved to:

note a public expression of interest process was carried out for the proposed sale of 179 High Street, Fremantle, between 19 March 2024 and 28 May 2024; and
1. Receive the offers submitted by Proponents 1,2,3,4 & 5 as provided in the confidential attachments.
2. Receive the offer submitted by Proponent 6, as provided in the confidential attachments, noting that this offer was received after the submission deadline, which is determined to warrant further consideration by Council.
3. Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to continue negotiations with proponents 1,3,5 & 6, noting that the negotiations will include but is not limited to, the following:
a. a buy-back requirement to ensure the City has a first right of refusal in the event of a sale;
b. ways of securing cultural activity uses;
c. options to deliver legally binding investment to enhance the cultural capacity of the building.
4. Note that following further negotiations a report be brought back to council for consideration of further action.

This recommendation included amendments moved by Cr Sullivan and Cr Lawver, who sought to ensure that the City retains the power to refuse a sale, safeguard ongoing cultural uses for the benefit of the community, and establish the requirement for the item to be returned to Council for further consideration once negotiations progress.

The City received six submissions, one of which was late, in response to the EOI. Not all of them plan to keep the Victoria Hall as a performing arts venue accessible to the public, despite accessibility to the public and proposed use forming 45% of the selection criteria weighting under the City’s procurement process for considering the Victoria Hall EOI submissions. Sales price equates to 45% and Financials (specifically financial capacity of proponent to pay and to maintain the Hall on an ongoing basis) at 10%.

Whether the Victoria Hall should remain in public ownership, leased to not-for-profits arts entities, is a key question.

The City first acquired the heritage-listed 1896 building, designed by John Talbot Hobbs as a parish hall for St John’s Church, in 2001 and pledged to restore it. The magnificent yet curiously innocuous building sits nestled amongst modern developments now on High Street, a stone’s throw away from the City of Fremantle administration centre and library, and within a cosy short radius of wine bars, cafes, office spaces, and apartments.

The Hall itself once hosted the Fly by Nightclub, which vacated the premises in 2019, and the City then proceeded to commence a sales process. No suitable offers were received, and the City shelved the listing until “market conditions improved.” The Fremantle Theatre Company (FTC) took on a 12 monthly lease during this time, however, director Renato Fabretti has asserted that FTC was not made aware of the City’s intent to sell the premises prior to signing the lease. He expressed the value that the restored Hall provides to the community, particularly for artists to have an affordable space to rehearse and perform, and for people across the Perth community to enjoy the arts, particularly in the wake of disappearing venues. Concerns over the very matter prompted the Fremantle Society to host a public forum to discuss it, as well as the Fremantle Oval redevelopment and the City Plan, at the Hall on Sunday 21 July 2024.

Mayor Fitzhardinge remarked that the popular Rechabite venue in Northbridge, formerly a music hall in public ownership, operates privately without any thought as to the merit of City ownership. Perhaps. But does the City of Perth experience the same issue with office floorspace shortfalls as the City of Fremantle?

The Chief Executive Officer is now authorised to continue negotiations with the proponents who submitted the highest ranked offers during the EOI, as per the City’s procurement process. Profits from the sale of the Hall are planned to go to a dedicated fund for ongoing restoration and works. Watch this space for further news.

SHARK NET AT BATHERS BEACH

Remember this item from the 27 March OCM?

Since then, the City netted funding assistance from the State Government for up to $500,000 to establish a seasonal 340-metre shark barrier at Bathers Beach. The City will cover the additional $200,000 cost, along with the additional annual $121,000 for removal and reinstallation for the winter period. It is designed to protect a 60,000m2 swimming area for beachgoers.

The City conducted extensive community engagement after first announcing its intent to pursue the State funding for the shark barrier. Up to 1750 items of public feedback via 159 submissions through the City’s online MySay portal were provided, and of the 159 formal submissions received 48% advised they do support the barrier location whereas 52% do not.

Mayor Fitzhardinge and the City’s Director [of] Infrastructure and Project Delivery met with Don Punch, Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Ageing; Volunteering on 28 May 2024 to advocate for the State funding.

Council resolved to support the officer recommendation to:

1. Thank the Western Australian State Government for their commitment to provide up to $500,000 funding assistance for the installation of a beach enclosure at Bather’s Beach. 2.Request officers progress with the Bathers Beach Enclosure proposal including:
a. Liaising with the Western Australian State Government on the requirements and process to accept the funding.
b. Seeking further information on and gaining required approvals for the installation of the beach enclosure.
c. Liaising with the adjacent land managers and stakeholders including Fremantle Port Authority and the Department of Transport on the beach enclosure.
2. Council adopt the following budget amendment to the 2024/2025 Annual Budget, noting that any deficiency in municipal funding relating to the total cost of the project will be addressed following end of financial year processing planned for August 2024:
3. Council adopt the following budget amendment to the 2024/2025 Annual Budget, noting that any deficiency in municipal funding relating to the total cost of the project will be addressed following end of financial year processing planned for August 2024:

4. Subject to approval of Part 2 and Part 3 of the resolution, delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to accept the funding assistance and progress with the procurement of the beach enclosure.

TRAFFIC CALMING AND SAFE STREETS

Back again, this was last discussed at the 10 July OCM and ultimately deferred.

Cr Williamson-Wong commended City officers for all their work on this project, with emphasis on low cost urban treatments that will hopefully allow the Cityto deliver many more projects which she said she was ‘excited to see come through’. Deputy Mayor Cr Archibald concurred and applauded the City for displaying innovation in the development of traffic calming measures.

Council resolved unanimously to support the officer recommendation to:

1. Receive and acknowledge the community feedback provided in the Safe and Functional Streets Engagement Report, as provided in Attachment 1.
2. Adopt the Traffic Calming Policy, with inclusion of an amendment to include speed reduction initiatives, as provided in Attachment 2.
3. Adopt the Narrow Street Safe Access Policy, with inclusion of an amendment pertaining to the ranking of measures as informed by community feedback, as provided in Attachment 3.
4. Requests the Chief Executive Officer to bring back a report to Council by December 2024, which explores opportunities and the process to be followed for the application of a ‘City-wide’ 40km/h speed limit for the City of Fremantle.

That last particular item will be especially interesting to keep an eye on, as it implies a maximum speed of 40 kilometres per hour for all local roads in every suburb of the City of Fremantle.

IN OTHER NEWS

The City adopted the recommended findings of its Waste Services Review and resolved to endorse the latest Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Fremantle and St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in order to continue to support and co-fund the Library Connect program.

Thanks for reading.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for 14 August – until then!

Report by Gayle O’Leary

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