The Future of Fremantle Report - ‘A Vision .... hopefully not a Mirage?’

The report to Government of the Jane Bennett chaired Future of Fremantle Committee, bearing date November 2024 – the Bennett report – was, as exclusively reported on Fremantle Shipping News, finally released.

The Report makes a lot of sense, though I’m sure with choices to be
made, the Vision will vary and evolve over time.

May I suggest that the next step towards ‘stewardship’ of the Vision (ie who is going to make things happen), should be undertaken as
quickly as possible.

This step would enable actioning the immediate priority of comprehensively connecting and fully integrating the Fremantle Town Centre with the Victoria Quay waterfront, a major ‘game changing’ and energising opportunity for Freo which should be undertaken without any more delay.

So, who is going to make it happen?

Implementation will require involvement of the Fremantle Council, the Port Authority and Transperth to mention just a few of the agencies
involved, none of them, though, with overall authority, financial capacity and breadth of expertise to get things done in an effective
co-ordinated way to ensure the highest quality social, economic and civic outcomes.

It really needs a special purpose project agency with overarching State Government authority, financial capacity, design and engineering
skills to implement the Fremantle Vision plans.

I suggest that its time for a purpose designed Redevelopment Authority to get things moving. This is the next logical, immediate and
important decision that needs to be taken by the State Government.

Please, no dithering. It’s long overdue and high time to get on with it.

By John Adderley, retired City Planner

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