Cue the first Council meeting on 22 October 2025 for newly elected Cr Melanie Clark in North Ward, Pip Slaughter in East Ward, and councillor Ben Lawver now as Mayor!
During this meeting, Mayor Ben Lawver and Councillors Melanie Clark (North Ward), re-elected Fedele Camarda (who is now Deputy Mayor) (Central Ward), Pip Slaughter (East Ward) and re-elected Andrew Sullivan (Coastal Ward) were all officially sworn in and got down to business.
Apparently 9,961 formal votes were made during this year’s Council election. Our new Mayor received 3,315 votes (after distribution of preferences it amounts to 4,441 votes). Mayor Lawver’s term runs to 20 October 2029.
We have a slightly smaller Council following changes to the Local Government Act and resulting reduced councillor ratios to each Ward of the City.
A short and sharp first meeting for this iteration to swear in new and returning councillors, signing and declaring, and dealing with form snafus. In the time it took me to hop on two buses and trudge home from Phoenix Shopping Centre in Spearwood, (now there’s a journey that never has a dull moment…) the meeting had already concluded!
Trevor Walley gave the Welcome to Country and mused over his recollections of this place and the history of the original Noongar name for Fremantle, Walyalup, which to his family means “the children are crying”. Others describe it as the place of tears. Makes sense given it’s also the home of the Fremantle Dockers (or was, pardon, I’m pouring more salt into those tears). The meaning provided from research as explained on the City of Fremantle website is place of the woylie. Either way, Walyalup is beloved and rich with history.
No public questions this time. Nice and gentle for our fresh Council.
Council received one petition, which was the “Go Slow on Hope Street” petition featuring 41 signatures seeking to enhance the streetscape environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and other non-car users by lowering traffic speeds.
During the meeting, Cr Williamson-Wong discussed the recent JDAP or Joint Development Assessment Panel meeting where she and Cr Van Dorssen represented the City. Items at this JDAP included the approval condition affecting the famous skate ledge of the Woolstores building which was removed at the applicant’s request. During that time, the State Government also announced that the skate park next to the former Captain Munchies kiosk will be kept, rather than repurposed as an extended carpark as previously envisaged.
There are three Council meetings left to go for 2025. Plenty of work to be done before the year is up. I expect exciting things!
Nighty night, RADM readers. See you next time.
* By Gayle O’Leary. If you’d like to catch up on more by Gayle here on Fremantle Shipping News, look right here!
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