Rarely a Dull Moment - Sporting, Parks, and Plagues

If you’re a fan of the outdoors, the Ordinary Meeting of Freo Council on 25 September 2024, was a meeting for you.

The City made pivotal decisions affecting quality of life in Hilton Park, local sporting communities, tree canopy, and feline companions.

Let’s dig in.

HILTON PARK MASTERPLAN – THE PARK, NOT THE SUBURB

To recap, Hilton Park is a 19ha reserve which is being recognised as a ‘Community Parkland’ to reflect its social, sporting, and natural functions as a park.

How the Masterplan Works – image courtesy of City of Fremantle Council report

The officer report advised the need for a Masterplan arose from “engagement with sporting clubs on desired use highlighting issues with facilities, infrastructure and access to suit current and future sporting requirements.”

A Project Working Group was formed to guide the project which met five times, alongside the work of private landscape architecture (and related) consultants, and “significant” community engagement to workshop issues and ideas. A “really good conversation about what people needed and what they could give up”, the Mayor remarked.

There were 22 submissions on the final iteration during consultation from 31 May to 30 June. Eight supported it, two did not, the rest were a bit on the fence. Opposition or uncertainty tended to stem from concerns from reserve overcrowding, impacts to disc golf and basketball, and worries about safety for park users from all the activity include car movement in the car park.

The City’s MySay platform advertising the project received over 3000 visits and we are informed there were:
• Total visits: 3,100
• Engaged visitors: 117
• Informed visitors: 1,100
• Aware visitors: 2,100

I’m not aware of what an aware visitor is. Or do I mean informed? Goodness knows.

Items addressed in the final Masterplan included work to:
• “more clearly show the disc golf improvements,
• clarify the new public toilets in each of the 3 zones,
• clarify the parking on youth zone functionality i.e. only for overflow events and use of safety bollards at other times, and
• legibility of dog park signs.”

According to the officer report, key pertinent points clarified during the engagement were:
• Doubling of the disc golf course to an 18 hole course
• Confirmation the basketball area will not be impacted
• Turfed area to remain “largely the same”
• Three public toilet facilities (including one in each zone)
• Inclusion of a creative hub/outdoor performance/gathering space
• Improved lighting
• Safe shared use paths
• Dogs and fencing

The current capital budgets allocated to the Hilton Park Project entail the following, although these are subject to change through the Masterplan finalisation:

Some good, some bad news reported in respect to this item. The City submitted a “Thriving Suburbs Program Grant” on 30th August which is strives to invest in “locally-driven urban, suburban and peri-urban community infrastructure projects” particularly within the northern precinct of the site. This includes the “Brad Hardie Pavilion, senior and junior football Oval, cricket nets, pump track and other recreational areas.” Total cost of $7,495,954 ex GST for this stage alone! The grant sought to secure $3,747,977, while the City will cover the remaining costs. We await the outcome of this particular grant.

Meanwhile, the City submitted another for a “Play Our Way” grant expression of interest in April 2024 for $5,592,400 but was unsuccessful. That would have allowed the Ken Allen building to be replaced with a new community facility on the south-west corner of the reserve aimed at improving women’s sport and recreation. A shame.

Cr Graham expressed his appreciation for the volunteers who run the local sporting clubs and labelled Hilton Park as “a jewel in the crown” in respect to its role as a community hub.

It’s fitting then that, after much discussion and an amendment motion by Cr Archibald (to further consider potential improvements) which sadly wasn’t moved and a deferral motion by Cr Sullivan out of a desire to deliver a better and bolder outcome for our “No.1 sporting reserve” which ultimately lost [perfect is the enemy of good, we suppose], the City resolved to support the officer recommendation that:
1. Council adopt the Hilton Park Precinct Plan – Masterplan Report, as provided in Attachment 1.
2. Note the Brad Hardie Pavilion project summary scope of works, being developed by officers for procurement, which includes the following:
a. Community/social space: Cosmetic upgrade to community room.
b. Player Changerooms: Renovate both home and away changerooms to create a welcoming, inclusive, and modern environment.
c. Player Amenities: Consolidate player amenities to provide teams with access to non-gendered, inviting, and inclusive toilets and showers.
d. Umpires: Revitalise the current space for use by umpires.
e. First Aid/Medical and Office: Consolidate and ensure the functionality of the first aid, medical, and office areas.
f. External Storage: Consolidate external storage areas to provide accessible space for sports equipment.
g. Internal Storage: Consolidate internal storage areas for uniforms, furniture, and merchandise.
h. Kitchen: Apply minimal treatments to the kitchen, including painting and general maintenance.
i. Kiosk: Perform an aesthetic update to the servery while retaining existing equipment.
j. External: Conduct minor aesthetic upgrades including painting and lighting enhancements.
k. Public Amenities: Consider making internal toilets accessible to the public or providing a standalone toilet pavilion.

SPORT AND RECREATION FUNDING GRANT APPLICATION

This item considered the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) Club Night Lights Program (CNLP) and Forward Planning Grants (FPG) for Ken Allen Fields and Stevens Reserve. Specifically, lighting upgrades.

Speakers from the Fremantle District Cricket Club, Fremantle Cockburn Hockey Club, and North Fremantle Associated Sports Clubs all spoke very well on behalf of their applications. All made a compelling case particularly in respect to Gil Fraser reserve and for necessary building lighting upgrades to Stevens Reserve in Fremantle. Sporting clubs have a long history at this reserve stretching back to 1969!

Unfortunately I’ll have to take their word for it, not having a sporting bone in my body unless they’ve turned couch-surfing into an Olympic sport. After all, I don’t like cricket, oh no. I loathe it. (Sorry)

It was noted that this is the first step of many necessary steps to bring our reserves up to the best standard possible.

The City swiftly resolved, in what Mayor Fitzhardinge astutely observed as “probably the easiest discussion we’ll have tonight”, to unanimously support the officer recommendation to:
1. Prioritise the Ken Allen Fields Lighting Project as 1 of 1 Club Night Lights Program applications and:
a. Rate the Ken Allen Fields Lighting Project as “Well planned and needed by municipality”.
b. Endorse the submission of the Club Night Lights Program grant application for the Ken Allen Fields Lighting Project seeking contribution of $108,798 towards its implementation.
c. Note the City’s financial contribution of $200,000 from Project P12225 Lighting – Ken Allen costs as set out in the Club Night Lights Program application.
2. Support the Stevens Reserve Lighting Project prepared by the Fremantle District Cricket Club on behalf of the Stevens Reserve Joint Management Committee as 1 of 1 Forward Planning Grant applications received by the City and:
a. Rate the Stevens Reserve Lighting Project as “Well planned and needed by the applicant”.
b. Endorse the submission of the Forward Planning Grants application for the Stevens Reserve Lighting Project seeking contribution of $416,256 towards its implementation.
c. Note, subject to the approval of the Forward Planning Grant application by the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries, project progression will require:
i. A City of Fremantle municipal contribution of $500,000 being approved in the 2025/26 financial year.
ii. Confirmation of the Stevens Reserve Joint Management Committee funding package of:
1. Fremantle District Cricket Club contribution of $75,000.
2. Fremantle Cockburn Hockey Club contribution of $75,000.
3. Other State Government Funding contribution of $182,512.
iii.Signing of a new lease or tenure agreement, which includes enabling a higher level of community use of the reserve.

POLYPHAGOUS SHOT HOLE BORER

I get to whip out my personally trademarked catchphrase for the year! Supercalifragilisticpolyshotholeborer.

If only it were as delightful in real life as it is to say.

This tiny beetle from south-east Asia is one of the greatest threats to our biosecurity WA has seen, and it is wrecking havoc across the globe. To put it in Cr Sullivan’s words, it is “unbelievably frightening”. The State Government has already sunk $44 million into attempting to purge them but this is hardly helped by the fact they reproduce every 22 days, according to Cr Lawver.

I was wondering why there’d been no clear news or activity regarding the infested trees at Queens Park since the onsite information session on 3 April 2024. Now we have the answer.

Eight trees have been identified as infected and felled accordingly. Sixteen have not. They are:

Despite their identification and agreement to remove this massive biosecurity risk, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) have yet to organise the removal of the trees. The City decided to roll up its own sleeves and issue DPIRD with the bill afterwards.

For your information, when DPIRD becomes aware of an infected tree within the City of Fremantle area the City is:
• “Issued with a Quarantine Area Notice and Tree Management Plan which includes details for the course of action to eradicate the infestation, as per the following steps
1. The City is issued with a Pest Control Notice for the property placing restrictions on the movement of green waste material.
2. Two options for the prescribed control measures (treatment) are provided, which are typically tree removal or limb pruning, as follows:
a. Option 1: DPIRD will arrange, manage, and pay for the prescribed control measures (treatment) set out in the Tree Management Plan.
b. Option 2: The City of Fremantle will arrange, manage, and pay for the prescribed control measures (treatment) set out Tree Management Plan. 3. After the prescribed control measure has been undertaken, DPIRD have an ongoing monitoring program for the property until it is no longer considered an infested premise, and the Pest Control Notice is lifted.”
Efforts by research organisations to find alternative means of eradicating the pest, including ways to try and avoid having to remove entire trees, are ongoing. Especially as the weather warms up and becomes more favourable for the borer. What is encouraging, however, is to know that on 20th August 2024 DPIRD provided training to City staff which sought to “aid in increasing detections of PSHB while infestation is in its initial stages, which may allow for trees to be pruned rather than removed, and to stop the spread to nearby healthy trees.”

Council resolved to adopt an amended iteration of the officer recommendation and:
1. Request officers progress with the City funded removal of the DPIRD identified infested Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer trees located at Quarry Street, Queens Square and Booyeembara Park in Fremantle, in accordance with the Tree Management Plan issued by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. This is a proactive management response to protect the surrounding trees and reduce the risk resulting from leaving the infected trees in situ for a prolonged period.
2. Request that officers, when removing the infected trees, include suitable arrangements for an Arborist to assess the upper canopy of the surrounding trees for signs of further infection and also provide advice and supervision on any further canopy pruning as may be required.
3. Note that if the removal of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer trees leads to an overspend or forecast overspend on the Maintain Tree accounts, adjustments will be proposed at 2024/25 mid-year budget review for consideration.
4. Note officers have been implementing a more formal management response to Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer including tree succession planning, tree asset data updates, risk profile mapping and proactive monitoring programs.
5. Work with research organisations to identify suitable tree/s for control method trials, in an area that limits spread of PSHB.
6. Note officers are engaging with the research industry in the ongoing development of management responses to Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer and will continue to advocate with State and Federal Government for proactive response measures.
7. Request officers write to DPIRD to emphasise the Council’s significant concern with respect to the protracted delays in the removal of trees which DPIRD has identified as infected with the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer. The letter should highlight the following:
• To date, infected trees have been removed and costs have been paid for by DPIRD,
• There is now substantial risk of secondary infection, particularly as we move into the PSHB breeding season during the warmer months and with many of surrounding trees known to be host species.
• Given these higher risks, the City considers it necessary to immediately act to remove the known infected trees, and seek reimbursement from State Government for these costs.
• The City also seeks urgent clarification from DPIRD on its future treatment of infected trees and its plans for containment and potential eradication of PSHB within the metropolitan area.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CAT MANAGEMENT LOCAL LAW 2020

The claws were out amongst the councillors while debating this particular item.

Who currently has the best approach in Western Australia at managing cats and should serve as our model? Shire of Northam or City of Bayswater? How much money should we invest in separately testing out approaches if someone else is already doing it and we can learn from them?

Should we control cats roaming in City owned and managed places by incorporating the phrase ‘Cats in other places’?

Apparently it’s not an obvious answer.

This comes from the recent proposed change by the City of Bayswater. Which comes from the Shire of Northam. Which they took from the Cat Act 2011 WA.

So Cr Lang proposed an alternative motion to:
Request that a proposed amendment to the City of Fremantle Cat Management Local Law 2020, to incorporate, by reference, the wording of clause 3.2 ‘Cats in other places’ from the Shire of Northam’s Cat Local Law 2019 under section 82 of the Cat Act 2011, be prepared and brought back to the next Council meeting for consideration.

The officer recommendation was ultimately adopted, with modifications:
Council supports the intent of a proposed amendment to the City of Fremantle Cat Management Local Law 2020, and request a report be brought back to Council to initiate a local law process, after and if the City of Bayswater local law process has concluded and is endorsed by the JSCDL or if the City of Bayswater does not proceed that the matter be brought back to Council for further consideration.

Cat Local Law item with a pic taken in Hong Kong

Cat Local Law item with another pic taken in Hong Kong

Here’s a roaming cat I spotted in the Hong Kong Zoological Gardens and another in a Kowloon shop entry this July.

COMMUNITY SPORTING RESERVE PLAN 2024-2034

This item was deferred from the last meeting to allow for further discussion and minor changes to the Plan wording prior to a decision. Now here we are.

Cr Mofflin expressed that given he was away at the last meeting, he was pleased that it has come back to Council so he could also have the chance to discuss it, and the work they City has put in over the last three to four years to engage with the sporting clubs and understand their needs. Cr Van Dorssen concurred and lauded the efforts of the City, noting the importance of collaborating with and supporting sporting clubs.

Cr Lawver moved an amended to the original official recommendation to clarify the City’s intent to work collaboratively with the clubs.

A City staff member confirmed that in practice, they always seek to work with the clubs either way and come to an agreement before bringing the matter to Council, whether the Plan places an emphasis on collaboration or not.

Important to remember that this is a “Plan, not a policy”, when it comes to potential disagreement between the clubs and the City, although the Plan will ultimately lead to a policy to implement it! Mayor Fitzhardinge recollected her own observations of the North Fremantle Bowling Club where they were unable to reach an agreement in the past which ultimately exacerbated efforts to maintain and upgrade its facilities.

Council adopts the Community Sporting Reserve Plan 2024-2034, as provided in Attachment 1, with the following amendments:
1. Amend Recommendation 1, on page 13, to add the words “where appropriate and agreed to by the clubs”, to read as follows:
1. Develop a comprehensive policy and guidelines for the hire of POS (Sport Spaces and Recreation Spaces) and Community Facilities and related fees and charges, focussing on casual, seasonal and annual hire. This policy should reflect the following: City management of bookings for all Sport Spaces, where appropriate and agreed to by the clubs.
2. Amend Recommendation 2, on page 13, to remove the words “via the City’s existing booking process” and add the words “where appropriate and the club agrees”, to read as follows:
2. Negotiate with existing building lease holders to enable general community and sporting group access to these facilities, where appropriate and the club agrees.
3. Amend Action 1 for Hilton Park (page 18), Stevens Reserve (page 22), Gil Fraser Reserve (page 24) and Frank Gibson (page 26), to remove the words “where the City assumes the management of bookings for all its Sport Space” to read as follows:
1. Implement Policy Recommendation 1
4. Amend Action 2 for Hilton Park, on page 18, to add the words “where appropriate and agreed to by the clubs”, to read as follows:
2. Implement Policy Recommendation 2

IN OTHER NEWS

The Mayor has also recently returned from the AUKUS US trip, which gave her the opportunity to learn about case studies in port redevelopment, managing homelessness, micromobility, and “how not to” do waste management.

That should become available as a report from the South West Metropolitan Alliance. Sounds like it’ll be quite the read to look forward to.

That’s all.

Cheerio for now, Shipees!

Report by Gayle O’Leary

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