Rarely a Dull Moment - The First Decisions of Our Brand New Council

This was interesting as an indicator of the direction the new Council may take on matters for their term.

This was the first meeting of the current Council composition with a full agenda. Short and decisive at 2 ½ hours. It involved contentious residential heritage proposals, amendments to an existing local planning policy affecting the suburb of O’Connor, and the future of transport in North Fremantle.

A petition for safer pedestrian crossings in South Fremantle was also received and spoken to.

The City heard from former councillor Gerry MacGill of the North Fremantle Community Association regarding the impact of the old traffic bridge closure and need for the City to advocate strongly on behalf of the North Fremantle community with respect to erosion of community power over the past decades and the future of transport in North Fremantle.

The recent pedestrianisation of now Henderson Street Mall outside the Fremantle Markets was also raised, although not all are happy about the loss of a few paid carparking bays for the sake of activation and pedestrian safety next to the proposed Spicers Hotel site according to Cr Graham, who expressed his dissent over the closure of it under delegated authority rather than a decision of Council, after approximately forty years of their presence.

ADOPTION OF AMENDED LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 3.8 – LOCAL PLANNING AREA 8 – O’CONNOR

As part of the larger clean up of the City’s local planning policies, the policy affecting non-residential development such as commercial and industrial uses in O’Connor has been updated to reflect recent changes in planning instruments and to tease out improved landscaping and development outcomes.

In summary, the changes as stated on the City’s consultation platform MySay advise:

Remove items that duplicate the R-Codes or are no longer applicable;
Increase minimum landscaping requirements and secondary street setbacks with the aim of locating landscaping predominantly in street setback areas;
Revise built form controls, including site coverage for industrial sites; and
Remove items of duplication from LPS4

Excerpt from the City Agenda 12 November 2025 explaining the changes to landscaping

The officer report advises that the changes to landscaping are made for the purpose of:

“align[ing] the policy more closely with the recently adopted Local Planning Policy 2.26 – Tree Retention, and support overarching efforts to expand tree canopy throughout the City.

The amendments to the policy in respect to providing shade trees and landscaping will enhance site and streetscape conditions for operators and patrons within O’Connor, assist in incidental stormwater retention onsite to reduce flooding risks, and promote positive environmental outcomes by combatting Urban Heat Island Effect and providing habitat and foraging for local fauna and flora.”

The policy was advertised concurrently with new Local Planning Policy 3.3 – Local Planning Areas (East) which consolidates various older local planning policies affecting the suburbs of White Gum Valley, Samson, and Beaconsfield, and is anticipated to be brought back to Council for determination in 2026 once consent on the policy from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has been provided to continue varying some aspects of the Residential Design Codes of Western Australia.

Four comments during the advertising period during 29 August to 19 September 2025 spoke to concerns over potential property devaluation as an outcome of tightening the site cover and landscaping controls, another recommended loosening the shade tree provision requirements to improve views between the street and car parking areas, and another raised concerns about car parking demand in the area. The officer report advised that the requirements only apply to new developments, that discretion on policy can be exercised when deemed appropriate based upon the application, and car parking requirements will continue to apply as usual.

Council unanimously resolved without discussion (except for Mayor Lawver asking on behalf of online viewers which copy of the policy in the attachments they were adopting, as the updated and the original policy copies were both contained in the attachments) that it:

1. Note the submissions received during the advertising period in Attachment 3.

2. Adopt the amended Local Planning Policy 3.8: Local Planning Area 8 – O’Connor, as provided in Attachment 1, and publish notice in accordance with Clause 3(4) and 4(3) of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015.

NORTH FREMANTLE TRANSPORT PLANNING ADVOCACY

As a reminder, the City is currently preparing a City Plan for North Fremantle to guide spatial planning and land use within North Fremantle in a similar manner to the Plan for central Fremantle. The officer report describes this as follows:

“The North Fremantle Plan aims to establish a shared vision and integrated spatial framework to guide the future of the North Fremantle Town Centre and its surrounds, particularly the Bracks Street Precinct. The project seeks to coordinate planning in partnership with the community to advocate for improved pedestrian connectivity and walkability, respond to coastal and climate adaptation challenges, and ensure that public spaces, heritage, and community assets continue to meet local needs. It also recognises the area’s significant potential for growth and incremental redevelopment, particularly in light of long-term plans for the relocation of Fremantle Port.

…

The City Plan: North Fremantle remains in progress, with Phase 2 community engagement currently being prepared and expected to commence before Christmas 2025. While this work continues, the City seeks to establish a set of guiding principles and objectives to support advocacy with State Government and alignment with broader regional planning initiatives.”

This work will assist in providing comprehensive feedback on the Scope of the proposed Integrated Transport Strategy by the State Government. This is described by officers as “a high-level position statement from the local authority based on balancing future regional transport needs with local movements, land use planning and consideration of heritage, place and community values.”

Cr van Dorssen thanked the officers for their reporting on the item and for Council for their consultation process as she was pleased with engagement undertaken for it. Cr Sullivan also expressed his regret that he did not personally speak out against the past upgrade and widening of High Street at the entry of Fremantle, and noted that if anything like that were to occur in North Fremantle it would have an even more detrimental impact on the suburb.

Excerpts from City Plan North Fremantle Engagement Report Phase 1 – 12 November 2025

Council unanimously resolved that it:

1. Note the City Plan North Fremantle Phase Engagement Report (Attachment 1) and the Community Engagement Snapshot (Attachment 2).

2. Endorse the Objectives and Principles within this report to guide transport planning and advocacy for further planning and engagement.

3. Forward the Objectives and Principles to the Department of Transport and the Minister for Transport as a clear position statement from the City to assist with establishing the brief for the Integrated Transport Plan and associated Terms of Reference.

4. Request that the Minister for Transport confirm the proposed governance structure for the Integrated Transport Plan, identifying how formal representation from the City of Fremantle will be undertaken, as well as input from the community.

IN OTHER NEWS

Council resolved to support an alternative recommendation for approving the demolition of a contributory heritage Californian Bungalow next to St Paul’s Anglican Church at 166 Hampton Road in Beaconsfield to allow for a three-storey residential building for those less fortunate as well as a second storey addition and roof terrace to another contributory dwelling at 89 Ellen Street in Fremantle. Both items prompted a discussion of the roles these dwellings play to the contribution of heritage values to their respective Heritage Areas, and how stringently the City should view proposals to demolish or alter them. Whether you agree or disagree, it’s topical.

The City has received application DAP003/25 82-84 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle – Co-living development and DAP007/25 242 Marine Terrace, South Fremantle – Six storey Multiple dwelling development which will be considered and ultimately determined by the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel. A meeting for these decisions had not been set by the time of this Council meeting.

Application DAP005/25 for a 4 to 6 Storey Hotel Development including restaurant/cafe, small bar and shop land uses at ground level at the Spicers site, 10 Henderson Street, was granted conditional approval by the Panel on 4 November 2025.

Remember that DAP applications will no longer be reported at Council meetings but they can be attended in person or viewed on Youtube here for those who are interested, and the details of each meeting can be accessed at: https://www.planning.wa.gov.au/development-assessment-panels/daps-agendas-and-minutes/metro-inner-agenda-and-minutes

FYI

Council have adopted a change to their meeting schedule, meaning there will be no Council meetings held in January 2026 to allow for a break over the Christmas and New Year period. The start time of the Ordinary Council Meetings was also intended to be changed to commence at 6.30pm to allow additional time for Council members and the community to attend the meetings but that was unsuccessful.

And that’s it.

Slightly windy but otherwise perfect weather for basking under the nice skies with a drink in hand near the freshly installed trees on Henderson Street Mall. Ahhhhhh.

See you in a few weeks, readers.