Fremantle Herald Official

Fremantle Herald Official The OFFICIAL page of Fremantle's locally owned, independent newspaper.

Up to 40 trees on the Bicton and Applecross foreshores have been “vandalised” in the last year, costing ratepayers hundr...
22/07/2025

Up to 40 trees on the Bicton and Applecross foreshores have been “vandalised” in the last year, costing ratepayers hundreds of dollars in replacement and maintenance fees.

According to the City of Melville, bushland around the Bicton, Attadale, and Applecross foreshores are “tree vandalism hotspots” which have been targeted regularly in the last year.

A particular spot at Blackwall Reach Reserve, pictured, has been targeted multiple times, and the City has had to replace the tree twice: the last tree was cut off from the base.

City of Melville foreshore leader Jamie Davies says the maintenance team are “at a loss” as to why the young trees continue to be targeted, despite widespread community support for the planting.

“Considering there is little chance that they will interrupt views, [the trees] complement existing mature native trees on the foreshore and don’t create any other foreseeable inconvenience,” Mr Davies said.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/33mufkyw.

Artists near the Roundhouse are fuming after Fremantle council blocked the only vehicle access to their galleries and st...
21/07/2025

Artists near the Roundhouse are fuming after Fremantle council blocked the only vehicle access to their galleries and studios with bollards that were installed without consultation.

The group of art organisations occupy the Pilot’s Cottages at the top of the rocky outcrop of Arthur Head/Manjaree and had previously been able to access their galleries via a “pedestrian pathway” on the reserve.

Photographer Glen Cowans said the City installed the bollards without notice, even though he has a permit to park and load or unload his photography material.

“All my unloading might take half an hour, so the permit allows me to do that, and I need to be able to do that almost on a daily basis,” Mr Cowans said.

“If I try to take a two-metre canvas through the wind up here, it’s going to be a sail that’ll take me kitesurfing, as well as damage to the customer’s print… even carrying it down the [Roundhouse] stairs is impossible.

“I’ve also got big rolls of canvas because I do my own printing, and they’re heavy, and there’s other heavy goods that I have to bring in and out… we also do expos and markets, so we’ve got to be able to load and unload the car.”

Mr Cowans says the City tried to put in provisions to protect the reserve’s lawn, including to place large rocks at the entrance, but the bollards were never discussed.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/2ccjmdpc.

Melville's mayor will invite Aussie rock icons AC/DC for an official visit City as part of their Perth tour dates in Dec...
19/07/2025

Melville's mayor will invite Aussie rock icons AC/DC for an official visit City as part of their Perth tour dates in December in an effort to commemorate legendary frontman Bon Scott.

Scott, who “spent part of his youth” in Melville and whose song Highway to Hell is speculated to be based on Canning Highway, is buried at Fremantle Cemetery in Palmyra and the City of Melville is eager to capitalise on the singer’s cultural significance.

Following a motion put forward at this weeks’ meeting, the Council elected to “begin investigations” into a “permanent civic tribute” to the rocker, as well as potential for engagement with local musicians, artists, and schools to “co-design” the tribute.

AC/DC will be playing two dates in Perth on its national tour in December, and as part of the motion, councillors also requested for mayor Katy Mair to write to the band’s management to see if they’d be keen on an official visit.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/33mufkyw.

A seven-storey aged care facility proposal on Stock Road and Canning Highway has received backlash from residents who sa...
18/07/2025

A seven-storey aged care facility proposal on Stock Road and Canning Highway has received backlash from residents who say the development is “concerning”.

The plans by developer Hall and Prior, have been opposed by a group of local residents who say the scale of the development will not fit into their community hub.

The City of Melville’s Centre Plan for the area zones the location for three stories, but the initial plan from the developers indicated a seven-story facility.

Local resident Tom Lapsley says the developer, who reduced the plans to six stories following community consultation, have now tried to amend the plans to put the seventh story back in, following approval from JDAP.

“They say it’s six, but they take the ground level up at Canning Highway intersection, and because there’s slope on the block so when you get down to that corner it’s technically another story,” he said.

“During the initial consultation [in 2023], it had that extra level and they took that off the plans to help get it through given the community pushback, so they were sort of listening to us."

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/2y86bzt7.

17/07/2025

A man has died after yet another e-scooter incident, in Bibra Lake after colliding with a truck last Tuesday morning.

Police say the 35-year-old was killed after a collision with a white Isuzu truck at the intersection of Bibra Drive and Walliabup Way.

Emergency services arrived at the scene at 10.40am and transferred the man to Fiona Stanley Hospital “in a critical condition”, but he later died from his injuries.

Major Crash investigators are calling for dashcam, mobile phone, or CCTV footage of the incident, and have requested anyone with knowledge of the incident to call Crime Stoppers.

It’s the third death involving an e-scooter, following the deaths of 13-year-old Ava Seculovic in Wanneroo last year and Perth father Thanh Phan in Northbridge in June.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/5ahzf5uh.

A former City of Fremantle heritage architect has slammed any suggestion the council should relinquish responsibility fo...
16/07/2025

A former City of Fremantle heritage architect has slammed any suggestion the council should relinquish responsibility for Arthur Head Reserve, warning it would represent an “abominable” disregard for one of the state’s most important heritage precincts.

The comments from architect and heritage consultant Agnieshka Kiera come in response to Fremantle council’s launch of community consultation for a new “vision” to help guide planning for Arthur Head—also being referred to in the process by its Aboriginal name Manjaree.

Ms Kiera was reacting to a long-held suggestion from mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge that the council should consider handing the vesting of the Arthur Head Reserve back to the state government, citing the mounting costs of upkeep.

Back in 2021, then-councillor Fitzhardinge likened the historic precinct—which includes WA’s oldest public building, the Round House—to “trying to keep a pet elephant on a minimum wage”, saying Fremantle was the only council in the country she knew of that had taken on such a major heritage burden.

But Ms Kiera, who helped lead the original restoration of the precinct in the 1980s, says those claims are inaccurate and unfair.

“Arthur Head was vested in the City at no cost to the then council,” she said. “At no point did councillors assume that it would be a money-making asset.”

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/5ahzf5uh.

“Don't assume buyers are powerless,” says a former Army officer who is suing property developers over an off-the-plan co...
15/07/2025

“Don't assume buyers are powerless,” says a former Army officer who is suing property developers over an off-the-plan contract he claims was unfairly terminated.

Located in North Fremantle and designed by Harris Jenkins Architects, Yolk Property’s Cornerstone on McCabe townhouses promised “all the intimacy and individuality of a standalone home”, something Paul Scanlan envisaged settling into with his daughter after serving 27 years in the Australian Army.

Mr Scanlan, who had worked and studied in Fremantle as a young man, put down a 5 per cent deposit on a $1.5 million townhouse in March 2021, but was told just over a year later that the price would be increasing by $300,000 due to rising construction costs.

Former Yolk founder Pete Adams, who left the company to establish PARC Developments, which took over Cornerstone, told the Chook the cost increases were “largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has been well documented in the media”.

Going back to the drawing board, Mr Adams said the number of townhouses were increased and the price pushed up to make the development viable, but he was able to offer original purchasers discounts on the new scheme.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/2wk8nz8h.

Va**ng, inner-city infill, and infrastructure are top of Hannah Fitzhardinge’s list after announcing she will seek anoth...
14/07/2025

Va**ng, inner-city infill, and infrastructure are top of Hannah Fitzhardinge’s list after announcing she will seek another term as Fremantle mayor come October.

Ms Fitzhardinge says unfinished business is “a primary driver”.

“I feel like we’ve got a lot of great things underway, but there’s things I want to see through to completion,” she said.

“We’ve done a lot of the planning, we’ve got back onto a sound financial footing, and it’s time to deliver on some of the things that we’ve gone out there, consulted the community on, and now have the ability to do.”

The “real scourge” of v**e shops and convenience stores cropping up in the Freo CBD is a short-term priority on the election platform; Ms Fitzhardinge says she’s been working with the Chamber of Commerce to help combat the sweet-smelling apocalypse plaguing Freo’s teenagers.

“One of the immediate things I’m working on, and this is off the back of a lot of community concerns, is getting the police minister down to have a look at the situation we’re facing with the illegal v**e shops and selling,” Ms Fitzhardinge said.

“We need urgent action… I think it is reaching that crisis point where it’s sending the wrong message about the kind of city we want to be, and we need really dedicated action and a police operation to try and crack down, under the laws that exist already.”

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/4yu5xbnb.

Melville’s women’s hockey team will take on some of Japan’s best national players in a “tough” exhibition match this wee...
11/07/2025

Melville’s women’s hockey team will take on some of Japan’s best national players in a “tough” exhibition match this weekend.

The Melville team will take on the Hiroshima-based Coca Cola Red Sparks, six of whom also play in Japan’s women’s national team.

Melville City Hockey Club secretary Janine Tate says the match will be a “tough ask” for the Melville squad, given the Sparks’ level.

“It’s certainly going to be a great experience for our girls, given some of them are quite young to be playing at this level,” Ms Tate said.

“It’ll be good to test ourselves against one of the best teams going around, so we’re very excited to be able to host them.”

But Melville has a secret weapon in Yuu Asai, a 120-game veteran of Japan’s national team and an Olympic representative who is also the former captain of the Sparks.

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/4yu5xbnb.

There's a great line up of events in Chookland for the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC week.This year’s theme is ‘The Next Ge...
10/07/2025

There's a great line up of events in Chookland for the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC week.

This year’s theme is ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’ which acknowledges the rich history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people while looking forward to an exciting future.

In Melville, there will be a special family event at Melville Library from 10:30am-12pm on Sunday July 13.

Author Jayden Boundry will read from his book Boodja Barna: Land Creatures, which teaches kids about Aussie animals and their Noongar names in a fun way.

Children will get to draw animals like the yongka (kangaroo), the weitj (emu) and the nyingarn (echnida), alongside talented artist Tyrown Waigana, who illustrated Boodja Barna: Land Creatures.

The event promises to be a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

As part of NAIDOC week, there will be a premiere of Boodjara, a powerful documentary about how Melville restored Nyoongar place names to its public spaces.

Part of the Revelation International Film Festival, Boodjara will be screened alongside films by indigenous creatives in a segment honouring NAIDOC week at Luna Leederville on Thursday July 10.

For more events and the full story see https://tinyurl.com/2p9rz7ab.

A former City of Fremantle heritage architect has slammed any suggestion the council should relinquish responsibility fo...
09/07/2025

A former City of Fremantle heritage architect has slammed any suggestion the council should relinquish responsibility for Arthur Head Reserve, warning it would represent an “abominable” disregard for one of the state’s most important heritage precincts.

The comments from architect and heritage consultant Agnieshka Kiera come in response to Fremantle council’s launch of community consultation for a new “vision” to help guide planning for Arthur Head—also being referred to in the process by its Aboriginal name Manjaree.

Ms Kiera was reacting to a long-held suggestion from mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge that the council should consider handing the vesting of the Arthur Head Reserve back to the state government, citing the mounting costs of upkeep.

Back in 2021, then-councillor Fitzhardinge likened the historic precinct—which includes WA’s oldest public building, the Round House—to “trying to keep a pet elephant on a minimum wage”, saying Fremantle was the only council in the country she knew of that had taken on such a major heritage burden.

But Ms Kiera, who helped lead the original restoration of the precinct in the 1980s, says those claims are inaccurate and unfair.

“Arthur Head was vested in the City at no cost to the then council,” she said. “At no point did councillors assume that it would be a money-making asset.”

She said the decision to take on the precinct had two clear goals: “Firstly, to restore the city’s (and WA’s) most significant heritage asset that would boost the identity and dignity of Fremantle as the city of culture, art and heritage… secondly, to create a public space, including Bathers Beach, as a much-needed public amenity in walking distance to the city centre.”

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/5mzebtrw.

Fremantle has become the first council in Australia to condemn the federal government’s decision to extend Woodside’s No...
08/07/2025

Fremantle has become the first council in Australia to condemn the federal government’s decision to extend Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project.

At its meeting last Wednesday, councillors voted to support a statement opposing gas projects at the Burrup Hub and Browse Basin, collectively known as Woodside’s North West Shelf.

Last month federal environment minister Murray Watt approved an extension to the North West Shelf’s life until 2070.

“The recent approval of the North West Shelf processing plant extension until 2070, and the proposal to take case from Browse Basin, contradicts climate science,” the statement council’s read.

“The decision is in opposition to the position taken by the City of Fremantle which calls for urgent action to reduce emissions.”

As part of the motion, the City will address a letter to “relevant government departments” including Murray Watt, Fremantle member Josh Wilson, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, to express the City’s position.

Coastal Ward councillor Jemima Williamson-Wong, who brought the motion to Council, says it felt “a bit absurd” for the City to have to make a position statement on the state and federal government’s decision.

“I had a few moments where I wondered… whether or not it was our place to be making or to be having this specific discussion as a local government, as we aren’t involved directly in this decision,” Cr Williamson-Wong said.

Our role as a local government is to represent the views of our community… we’re constantly taking action in Fremantle [about climate change] because we recognise the science and we recognise the
bigger picture.

“It seems impossible that governments should be allowed to take an approach that pretends we are just an island and the decisions elsewhere won’t affect us, or our decisions won’t affect people outside our jurisdiction.”

Read full story at https://tinyurl.com/5yt2vr9p.

Address

Fremantle, WA

Telephone

+61894307727

Website

http://www.fremantleherald.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Fremantle Herald Official posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Fremantle Herald Official:

Shortcuts

Share

Category