Rarely A Dull Moment - Trees, Con-stores, Roundabouts, Wombats

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 8 April 2026. A longish evening – 2 hours and 53 minutes to be precise – and covering a wide range of topics, but first……our valued public question time.

Public Question Time

Four people were present, with only one discussing a topic outside the agenda. May-Ring Chen raised concerns regarding radiation exposure from microwave and radio frequency, particularly along High and Carrington streets. The concerns raised were taken on notice with information to be forthcoming at a subsequent Council meeting. Three others were present to speak to the planning matters before Council.

Petitions

No petitions this round….

Elected member communication

Cr van Dorssen congratulated Council staff and Main Roads on the rapid completion of implementation of the 40kph zone at the Leighton Beach Boulevard, following presentation of a petition from locals at the Council meeting of 11 February 2026. It truly was a speedy turnaround!

And now for the topical topics – an excellent spread of trees, con–stores, roundabouts and wombats:

Items C2604-2 WATKINS STREET, 95 (LOT 14), WHITE GUM VALLEY – UNAUTHORISED REGULATED TREE REMOVAL and C2604-7 SIGNIFICANT TREE NOMINATIONS, LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 2.23 AND LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 2.26 REVIEW

The Local Planning Policy 2.26 Tree Retention has flexed its muscles with a family in White Gum Valley, who removed four “regulated trees” from their property following damage to their property and branches down after a storm. With all trees that meet certain specifications now falling into the category of regulated (and therefore protected) trees, the owners are now running the gauntlet of Council regulation and process – having lodged a formal development application seeking retrospective planning approval. All up it did seem an issue of not realising that this policy existed. The item was deferred for further discussion with the applicant and will be reconsidered at a future meeting of Council.

In addition, the Council considered several Significant Tree nominations under Policy 2.23, particularly focussing on trees which are considered of significance for cultural and heritage reasons, as well as policy criteria for registration of significant trees. The Tree Retention Policy 2.26 was also reviewed with the key change proposed being an upgrade to the residential zoning to include R40 and below within the City. This will mean all but a few smallish areas within the City of Fremantle will now fall within of this policy – see map below. The amendments to both Local Planning Policies will now go out for public comment and review.

Item C2604– 5 INITIATION OF SCHEME AMENDMENT 89 – CONVENIENCE STORES

With a continuation of concerns around managing the number and operation of Convenience Stores within Fremantle, the Council has proposed to initiate a scheme amendment which focusses on a change of land use permissibility of Convenience Stores from a “P” use to an “A” use in the City Centre, Local Centres, Neighbourhood Centres and Industrial Zones. This follows the work of the WA State Government which in February 2026 announced reforms to the “Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 that would see increased penalties and enforcement abilities as part of the first tranche of reforms.

The Council report raised concerns around the proliferation of such land uses (that) may pose a strategic risk to the diversification of businesses within the City Centre, with many allegedly selling tobacco products illegally or “under the counter”.

Cr Clarke, a con-store tracker, reported that at her last count there were now 18 convenience stores within the City Centre, up from the 15 reported by staff at their last count.

If you are wondering what a Con Store looks like, here’s one of the more recent, in Wray Avenue, Fremantle.

The scheme amendment motion was passed unanimously and will now go to the WA Planning Commission and Minister for consideration prior to advertising.

Item C2604- 14 ROAD SAFETY PROJECT – DOURO ROAD, FREMANTLE

A complex issue with Cr Williamson Wong leading the charge, wombats and all. It was a fraught debate with the difficulty of wanting to not lose the road resurfacing funds from Main Roads but seeking to get the optimum outcome from a community perspective.

While there was a clear indication from the public that they sought more pedestrian safety, particularly when crossing the Douro Rd/South Terrace intersection, concerns had been raised by engineers around public safety for some of the elements suggested. In the mix were loss of trees and parking bays if some aspects of design were to be introduced, as well as the need for additional lighting.

Cr Slaughter advocated for providing an option that ironed out the bugs. Cr Sullivan was as frustrated as (he) could possibly get and clarifying the definition of wombat crossings remained a significant point for Cr Williamson Wong. All up, Cr Williamson Wong moved an amendment asking staff to do more work to increase road safety issues identified, and this was approved.

The final motion supported Option 3, with further review of the location of a zebra crossing on the north side of South Terrace, removal of the median strip on the western side of Douro Road as well as further discussion with the public before being brought back to Council for final consideration.

And everything else

A mixture of items, including retrospective approval for proposed additions and alterations to, and unauthorised temporary change of use to Industry and Office at No. 25 Amherst, Fremantle(C2604-1), an electronic sign at Christian Brothers College in Ellen St (C2604-3), an amateur radio tower at No 7 Ord St (C2604-4), initiation of Scheme Amendment 74 to progress rezoning of nos 2-8 Harvest Rd to the next stage (C2604-6) (this is likely to become quite a discussed topic in the future – it is very different), deferral of the item on adoption of a Local Planning Policy 3.1: Fremantle City Centre and Northern Gateway (C2604-8), the adoption of Local Planning Policy 3.7 for the South Beach Village, the Planning Information report for April (C2604-10) and City Plan for North Fremantle Engagement Update (C2604-11), as well as a revised Code of Conduct (C2604-13). Finally, the Monument East Road naming (C2604-12) for the current development in Amherst St – names include sandstone, limestone and granite. (I might add, for Cr Sullivan’s benefit, who commented that sandstone was only found “way up north”, most of Fremantle is in fact sitting on a very large amount of “sandstone”….the term limestone being a bit of a misnomer here….a bit of geology to add to the mix…

All up a pretty interesting range of items and lots of work to follow.

Signed off at 8.53pm. Goodnight Freo.