Rarely A Dull Moment - Planning, Trees, Differential Rates, Other Stuff

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 knowledge and 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 13 May 2026. A range of issues with a substantial focus on planning (11 items), advertising of the differential rate for the 2026/2027 budget, various general, committee and working group reports and nomination for a board member on the State Library of WA. But first to……….

Public Question Time

A number of people attended to speak on the various planning matters, the advertising of the differential rates and on an alleged increase in crime. But two topics were raised that were particularly intriguing – one on the decision process for removal of the Moreton Bay fig tree on the corner of Douro Rd and South Terrace, South Freo, and the other on the legal framework for the use of the triangle of land that is half of the former King’s Square – now Walyalup Koort.

All up it was quite a night for trees, given it was a significant part of the discussion for two planning items as well as the topic of removal of the Moreton Bay fig tree. Liani Williams asked whether council would make the arborist report on the removal of this tree available to the public, given she had received informal advice from an alleged tree expert that the tree was not diseased and could have been saved. She also asked whether the process used by Council aligned with the tree canopy policy (Local Planning Policy 2.26 Tree Retention) of Council. The Director of Infrastructure advised that ‘the tree had been monitored by experienced arborists for a number of years, and several unsafe limbs had to be removed over time”. However, it did seem a good point to ask, given the rigour we are seeking from our city folk on the process for determining the requirements for any “significant tree” removal. All that aside, the Director also noted that the “Moreton Bay fig tree removal did provide for a better outcome for the remodelling of the Douro Rd/South Tce roundabout” – now underway – and that two trees would be planted in its place.

Two associates of the St John’s Anglican Church in Fremantle, Father Ernest Lennon and Phillip Wright, Verger of the Church, raised concerns about how the land on which the church sits is being managed by the City of Fremantle under the peppercorn lease agreement with the Church. It was emphasised that this land belongs to the Church and that sensitivity to all layers of heritage must be considered. Issues of noise levels during church activities and proposed art installations within the grounds were raised as points of concern, among others. These comments are also prompted by item C2605-6 DEFERRED ITEM: ADOPTION OF LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 3.1: FREMANTLE CITY CENTRE & NORTHERN GATEWAY in which the city centre is discussed.

Petitions – not even one!

Elected member communications

Only Cr Clarke stumped up this meeting – noting that the William Street planting in the CBD had been completed. This project was funded by a $100,000 grant under the Town Teams Streets Alive Program which Cr Clarke had been extensively involved in from inception…and on which she added – “William Street has come to life!”. And in particular she extended thanks to the various teams within Council staff who supported the project.

Now for the topical topics:

Item C2605-1 DEFERRED ITEM: WATKINS STREET, 95 (LOT 14), WHITE GUM VALLEY – UNAUTHORISED REGULATED TREE REMOVAL – this item was first brought to Council on 8 April 2026, at which Council resolved to defer the decision for this item to allow the applicant to “provide additional evidence and justification in support of their application”. The story goes back to a storm event which resulted in limbs breaking from a regulated tree, resulting in some damage to property. The end result was removal by the residential owners of 4 trees – all of which fell under the category of a regulated tree within the Local Planning Policy 2.26 – Tree Retention. This policy was formally adopted by Council on 4 March 2025. The staff, who are obliged to report under the guidelines set by policy, recommended refusal for retrospective approval of the trees’ removal. However, the Council is able to exercise discretion and Cr Camarda moved an alternate recommendation to approve the application on grounds that the applicants were “motivated by safety of their house….and willingness to make amends on the policy, particularly given they have paid the penalty emotionally”.

While Cr Mofflin stuck to his guns and could not support the motion, he added that “more guidance around the safety clauses (of trees) may help interpretation of the policy”. Cr Graham was pragmatic with its “an unfortunate outcome…part of life…and something we can’t repair”.

Cr Sullivan asked about the prescribed qualifications of arborists who can justify tree removal under the “risk to property and person” clause of the policy, and it seems that there are only a handful.

Mayor Lawver noted that the proposed tree replacement plan put forward by the residents met the guidelines and that he “didn’t want to get tied up in knots” on the process – preferring to move forward. After considerable angst being expressed over this relatively new policy and questions of whether many were yet aware of it, retrospective approval was carried with all but Cr Mofflin and Cr Slaughter opposing the motion.

Item C2605-4 HOLLAND STREET, NO. 136 (LOT 146), FREMANTLE – CHILD CARE PREMISES – another fairly intense tree discussion given a number of mature trees (estimated by Cr Sullivan that this included 4 “regulated trees” under the tree retention policy) were once present on this site. Most had been removed prior to this application, with two remaining “regulated trees” – a Queensland Bottle Tree and a Jacaranda.

Locals raised concerns about the tree removal and traffic concerns with greater use of the laneway. Cr Graham felt that the “days of Queensland Bottle trees were well and truly over”, moving an amendment to delete Condition 2 relating to the tree relocation plan – but he was not supported and Cr Sullivan moved another amendment to retain both the Jacaranda and Queensland Bottle Tree, as well as other requirements relating to the trees proposed on site. With this being supported by colleagues, the amended motion for the childcare premises was approved unanimously.

Item C2605-5 DEFERRED ITEM: INITIATION OF SCHEME AMENDMENT 74 – NOS. 2-8 HARVEST ROAD, NORTH FREMANTLE – probably the highlight of the night in planning discussion terms, this proposal is part of a long-term process to rezone the lots on the corner of Harvest Rd and Stirling Hwy in North Fremantle. While staff had some reservations about any increase in density over R100, citing the general heights in the vicinity of the development are single or two storey with higher buildings further north along Harvest Rd – namely the 4 storey aged care facility and a 7 storey apartment building. R100 would result in heights of up to 4 storeys, while the “Acceptable Outcomes for height for an R160 site is 5 storeys (18 metres)”. The proponent has drafted a 6-storey plan as shown below. Cr Sullivan commented that the site was “absolutely a suitable location for higher density” and urged that it “should be embraced”, adding that with higher density it would deliver more residential rather than commercial development.

With various discussions to and fro, and four amendments, including upzoning to R160, restriction of access from the laneway only rather than from Harvest Rd, prescriptive clauses on tree retention or plantings, and an addition by Cr Williamson-Wong on land uses including Small Bar and Recreation-Private, it was finally approved unanimously to, among other things, proceed to seek approval to advertise Scheme Amendment 74 to Local Planning Scheme No. 4 (Attachment 1) as modified by the Schedule of Modifications (Attachment 2) under Regulation 46A of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 and, subject to approval, proceed to advertise the amendment. Still a very long way to go……

And everything else

A hefty agenda with all the other bits – including some planning outcomes.

C2605-2 DEFERRED ITEM: ATTFIELD STREET, NO. 52 (LOT 1), FREMANTLE – TWO STOREY ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING SINGLE HOUSE – alternate motion moved and supported to approve the development with modifications to a heritage property.

C2605-3 BROMLEY ROAD, NO. 14A (LOT 2), HILTON – SINGLE STOREY GROUPED DWELLING – refused – again on tree grounds in particular – where Cr Mofflin was “grumpy” that the applicant had made “no attempt to have a design which deals with trees”.

The C2605-6 DEFERRED ITEM: ADOPTION OF LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 3.1: FREMANTLE CITY CENTRE & NORTHERN GATEWAY was approved following minor amendment with revocation of several older planning policies.

C2605-7 AMENDMENTS TO LOCAL PLANNING POLICY 1.9: DESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN was approved without comment, as were policies for North Fremantle, White Gum Valley, Samson and Beaconsfield, as well as the amended Local Planning Policies 2.9: RESIDENTIAL STREETSCAPES and 3.6: HERITAGE-PROTECTED PLACES BUILT FORM AND LAND USE.

Several General, Committee and Working Group reports were approved, including the WALGA Climate Change Policy Statement and Fremantle Library report, as well as only one nomination for the next WA State Library Board representative…..from Cr Slaughter.

Importantly C2605-17 ADVERTISING THE PROPOSED DIFFERENTIAL RATE FOR THE 2026/27 FINANCIAL YEAR – approved without comment – though was the subject of some discussion in Public Question Time. No doubt it will be a very important part of the equation in June!

Signed off at 8.54pm. Goodnight Freo.