Rarely A Dull Moment - Dual Use Path, Spending Cash In Lieu, LGA Electoral Reforms

Welcome back to our regular feature, Rarely a Dull Moment where we report on the highlights of City of Fremantle Council meetings and activities. We would have titled the feature Never a Dull Moment, but didn’t want to overpromise!

In 2026, we are very pleased to welcome Jenny Archibald to the RADM desk. Jenny will be well known to many Freo folk as a former Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor of the City of Fremantle. Jenny brings a wealth of experience to her new role as our RADM reporter and we are sure many Shipees will look forward to her regular RADM reports.

Welcome readers to our RADM report for the Ordinary Council Meeting of 25 March 2026. An interesting evening covering a wide range of topics, but first … our valued public question time.

Public Question Time

The Convenor of the dedicated Hilton Precinct, Emma Livesy, presented feedback from a local community survey which overwhelmingly supported the public art funds of $96,500 beingspent in the Hilton area.

In Item C2603-17 Use of cash in lieu of Public Open Space and public art staff had proposed to use these funds for like works in the refurbishment of the Hilton Park reserve later in 2026.

And we saw the return to the Council chamber of former councillor, Adin Lang, along with three other path advocates, who spoke against the proposed recommendation for Item C2603-19 Dual Use Path – Lot 39 Daly St, South Fremantle. The proposed path has been mooted since 2014 – more on this below.

Petitions

A petition with more than 900 signatures was presented to Council, and received by Cr Camarda, seeking further works in northern Hampton Rd to slow the traffic and provide easier access for pedestrians, particularly when crossing the road. This is a source of ongoing frustration for many residents in the area – a report will be brought back to Council.

Elected member communication

Cr Williamson Wong reported that she was an invited speaker at the recent “We are Women” event, a charity targeting support for young girls, which is also supported by the City of Fremantle.

Cr Clarke reported on a Fremantle Chamber of Commerce round table discussion on our city centre – and acknowledged attendance by our local Police and some 30 businesses.

Mayor Lawver noted that at the recent meeting of the Perth South West Metropolitan Alliance it was reported that the first-generation rat baits are now being removed from shelves and that a bike path extension to Rockingham is being considered!

Now for the topical topics:

Item C2603-19 Dual use path – Lot 39 Daly St, South Fremantle

On again, off again – what does it take to build a small connector from Woolworths in Hampton Road and Hollis Park dual use path to the south? A good deal it seems … with the proponents, Humich Nominees P/L and Anilia P/L, requesting removal of the path from the lease agreement with the City due to “feasibility, safety and cost concerns”.

Under the terms of the lease signed 2 February 2024, the path was required to be constructed by 2 February 2026 and is now overdue. The cost was estimated at $177,000 if constructed as per the specifications determined. While debate went on an interesting journey of planning law and legal requirements, elected members generally agreed that the path would deliver a useful dual use connection where other access routes are less safe with busy roads and the like.

Debate raised concerns on how the data on expected usage of the path was gathered, given earlier data collected by the City showed a much greater use could be expected. All up, it was agreed that a more modest design may do the job and that the staff be requested to review the path costs and agreement in light of this. A case perhaps of build it and they will come??

Item C2603-17 Use of cash in lieu of public open space and public art

It is hard won money for public art, as the people of Hilton demonstrated. Not surprisingly the local community was keen to keep the public art funds in the precinct from which it was sourced – the Coles supermarket development in the Hilton Shopping Centre on South Street. While officers had argued that spending the public art funds ($96,500) as part of the Hilton Park recreation precinct upgrade would deliver a better outcome in terms of appreciation of the art by visitors, the elected members did not share this view and did not support the recommendation.

And likewise, the proposed use of the public open space contribution ($158,550) from the Jean Street subdivision was likewise voted down with elected members generally agreeing that the funds should be invested in public open space closer to the area from which the funds are raised.

A late and very significant Item C2603-27 Response to WALGA’s Discussion paper on Local Government Electoral reforms

In February 2026 WALGA put out a discussion paper on the proposed reforms by State Government for Local Government elections. The key changes put forward by the State Government are that all local government elections are aligned to complete spills once every four years, rather than the existing half spill every two years (WA is the only State where this occurs), and that voting is compulsory rather than optional or voluntary (WA and SA are the only States which have voluntary voting).

At the end of a longish meeting this might otherwise have attracted more debate, but nonetheless elected members did chip in with Cr Mofflin commenting we have largely got it right…that the half spill is valuable as we can drive changes for the city with a two year rotation and that while we are an anomaly compared to the rest of the nation, (that) sometimes anomalies can serve us well.

Cr Sullivan added we have a great system here in WA…this is part of our stability. Cr Williamson Wong concurred with Cr Mofflin in full support of the status quo, raising the concern of the link between compulsory voting and party politics.

An issue raised by Council officers was that while compulsory voting may improve turnout, this may not necessarily reflect community sentiment, where we currently see participation by those actively engaged in the election process. This may also result in an increase in “donkey” voting. With some quirky references during debate about TV series that went well over my head, the recommendation that the status quo remain was approved, with the comment that should the full spill option be brought in that it be introduced over two election cycles, so that current members can fulfil their given terms. It would be interesting to hear what the public think …

And everything else

Lots of other bits including a Review of the Dog Exercise and Prohibited Areas Council Policy and Local Laws relating to dogs(C2603-13), which attracted some quite interesting elected member comments, but it is now out for public review and comment.

Also, a review of the Short Stay Accommodation local law and related signage (C2603-14), the final Public Art Strategy for 2025-2035 following previous public input (C2603-16), the Child safe organisation commitment statement (C2603-18), Adoption of the Community Infrastructure Provision Council Policy (C2603-20) and Adoption of the Local History Collection Council Policy (C2603-21).

Finally, a bunch of financials and reports from the Audit committee of Council – which incidentally held its first committee meeting open to the public – did anyone go?

Signed off at 7.57pm. Goodnight Freo.