Rarely A Dull Moment - Dogs - Fremantle Shipping News

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 24 June 2026.

First to our valued public question time … lots of passionate discussion on where dogs may or may not roam, along with a couple of folk reminding Council of the Norfolk Island pine trees near the Douro Rd roundabout and their link with history, as well as questions on the public consultation process therein. To remind readers, the public consultation on the “Pedestrian Crossings South Tce and Douro Rd roundabout” is open until 30June 2026.

So with no Petitions, Presentations nor Elected Member Communication……

The Headline Story – Item C2606-10 REVIEW AND AMENDMENT OF DOG EXERCISE AND PROHIBITED AREAS COUNCIL POLICY AND LOCAL LAWS RELATING TO DOGS

This policy is reviewed every two years, but it always seems to deliver a touch of controversy. Where do dog walkers walk and stay out of the way of young children, not cause grief for other dogs and dog walkers, and not scare the wits out of people who are not comfortable with dogs? Overall, it ain’t easy … particularly given we live in a city with limited open spaces suitable for dog recreation.

https://www.visitfremantle.com.au/article/best-fremantle-cafes-bars-take-your-dog-dog-friendly-freo

The key aspects proposed were changes to areas where dogs could be off lead and restrictions on dogs for children’s playgrounds. Cr Sullivan moved an amendment relating to various definitions with respect to responsible dog ownership and compliance with the Dog Act, such as dog free areas, dog on lead areas, and dog off lead areas. And while he was at it, he cleaned up some of the terminology – clearing up that bone a fide should in fact be bona fide – perhaps a fitting error in the circumstance??

Cr van Dorssen raised concerns around the proposal that the Prawn Bay and Rocky Bay reserves be made “dog on lead”, adding that while “staff had responded (so) due to these being nature reserves….there had been no complaints (re) these areas…and that these areas should be kept for the enjoyment of our community.” It was also added that there was no visible damage from dogs withinthe regenerated areas. All up, the North Freo community, who were opposing changes, were supported and the status quo was maintained with an amendment by Cr van Dorssen to retain these areas for dog off-lead recreation.

A number of councillors raised concerns around the impact of dogs running through public areas that are being regenerated. Cr Clarkeurged that “we have got to work with people who are trying to green up”…but that while it was “good to have balance, it is hard to get balance”. Cr Williamson Wong didn’t support dogs in playgrounds at all…”we all navigate nuances in our lives”, while Mayor Lawver was pleased that the 50m rule around playgrounds was removed from the policy, allowing dogs and their owners to still be present, albeit with dogs on lead. All that aside, Cr Sullivan reiterated that constraint “is the reality of owning a dog”.

This sign has clearly had a very long life and is still in use – North Fremantle 1991

The final “dog policy” will necessitate that dogs are on lead at playgrounds and in public areas other than those specifically agreed to be dog off lead areas. And more education and signage (perhaps somewhat more recent than the above “heritage” sign) is planned to encourage “dog owners to do the right thing”. With the various amendments approved, the final policy was signed off with a unanimous vote and a good deal of thanks passed to the staff for their work through the rigorous consultation and policy revision period. Hearsay from the meeting has it that this issue had the most people tuning in online ever!

And everything else

Item C2606-11 SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY TRADING POLICY was approved, with Cr Williamson Wong noting that staff have done a good deal of research on where this trading could practically occur and that “it was good to have flexibility in the policy”. Cr Clarke was “really happy, as this will allow (people) to try things out and give it a go…”. Ticked unanimously.

The ELECTED MEMBER COUNCIL POLICY REVIEW (C2606-13) was amended by Cr Sullivan to facilitate input byelected members who may attend, but not be a committee member,at the new round of committee meetings starting in July this year. This is likely a very useful thing given the reduced number of councillors now on Council.

Cr Graham, while claiming, as he frequently does, that he “did not intend to speak tonight”, reported on the LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE meeting (ARIC2606-13), and shared that, while others may not hold his view, the committee was indeed a fascinating one. The bridge – “things are moving along very well there” and lithium battery fires can cause all manner of havoc. But we were assured that the (respective) services are all well prepared.

And Cr Williamson Wong put forward an elected member motion” C2606-18 NOTICE OF MOTION – SHORT-TERM ACTIVATION OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES hoping to have greater rigour placed on at least getting Council owned properties rented short term while waiting for the ideal long term tenant – setting an example for the numerous vacant building owners of Fremantle to follow suit – we hope!

Other items included the Youth Strategy Progress Update, a suite of reports from the Audit and Risk Committee meeting of 15^thJune 2026, some financial statements and other reports and Item ARIC2606-3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT OF GIFTS AND BENEFITS PERFORMANCE AUDIT INFORMATION REPORT. An audit of these reporting processes, along with those of a number of other local governments, was carried out by the Office of the Auditor General. The City in fact did very well – albeit acknowledging that the Officers’ report states it can always improve! Well done to the CEO et al.

Signed off at 20.34pm. Goodnight Freo.

*By Jenny Archibald