The City of Fremantle will be able to approve minor heritage building works in Fremantle’s West End without needing to refer to the Heritage Council under a new legislative framework.

The Heritage Council’s Delegations Framework grants the City of Fremantle authority to assess minor or routine works to heritage buildings, in accordance with Section 11 of the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990.

The new system will provide a more simplified approval process for West End landowners, proposing minor works to their heritage listed properties.

To identify minor or routine works an Impact Matrix has been developed to accompany the Delegation Framework and are available at https://www.dplh.wa.gov.au

Proposals for moderate to major works to a heritage building will still be referred to the Heritage Council for advice and comment.

Heritage Minister David Templeman said he was delighted that the City of Fremantle would play a key role in safekeeping local heritage.

“I believe this delegation will result in the conservation of the historic Fremantle West End for the benefit of all Western Australians. By removing red tape, West End landowners will have a more streamlined process when considering routine works to heritage buildings,” he said.

State Member for Fremantle, Simone McGurk agreed, “our historic West End is a wonderful window into the past and a significant tourism attraction. Allowing the City of Fremantle to remove some of the red tape associated with minor building works on heritage buildings, this will make things easier and less cumbersome for local owners and businesses.”

A senior steering group formed to drive forward plans to develop Fremantle Ports’ historic Victoria Quay as a vibrant, people-oriented waterfront precinct has met for the first time last week.

The steering group is chaired by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk and includes high-level representation from Fremantle Ports; Landcorp; the City of Fremantle; Department of Transport; the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce; Tourism Western Australia; Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage; Westport Taskforce; and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

The steering group’s brief includes examining the range of land uses in identified ‘precincts’ on the site, the needs of the working port and how to better link the Fremantle central business district to Victoria Quay, across the rail line.

The group’s work builds on the recently completed $3.25 million makeover of the Fremantle Passenger Terminal, as part of the McGowan Government’s commitment to revitalising Victoria Quay.

Any waterfront planning will be in line with the ongoing work of the Westport Taskforce, which is examining Western Australia’s future port and environs needs.

“There are numerous examples around the globe where inner-city port areas have been spectacularly transformed to create exciting waterfront areas,” said Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“We can do the same in Fremantle and mastermind the development of one of the world’s great inner-city port developments. Our goal should be achieving a transformation in a staged manner that is world-class.

“We have the right people at the table and I’m confident they have the resolve to achieve what the community desires.”

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said, “A great deal of high-quality planning and consultation has already taken place in the past decade or more, so considerable groundwork has been done.

“We are not starting from the beginning – the challenge is building upon that knowledge bank and seizing the moment.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said the quay has always been an integral part of Fremantle’s history, and it’s the right time to push through and transform it into a high-quality destination for both Western Australians and international visitors.

“This area has a spectacular harbour outlook, a rich and diverse history, cultural meaning for the Aboriginal community and has huge tourism appeal.

“The Fremantle community know this is an area full of possibilities and are impatient to see its potential realised.”

Premier Mark McGowan has visited the southern suburbs’ major grassroots netball facility to inspect the $1.8 million McGowan Government funded upgrades, an election commitment, which will revitalise the iconic club.

More than 5,000 participants from across the metropolitan area use the facility each week during the netball season.

Western Australian company Buildwell Group is overseeing construction with support from a range of local small businesses and contractors, supporting WA jobs.

Located at Gibson Park on High Street, the Fremantle Netball Association is an award-winning club and will welcome a new era when the new facility replaces the previous 60-year-old administration building.

The upgraded facility is expected to be completed by April, in time for the start of the 2019 netball season.

“The Fremantle Netball Association has provided a home for thousands of southern suburbs netball players over the years, and this new facility will ensure a bright future for the club,” said Premier Mark McGowan.

“Gibson Park is an integral part of the electorate of Bicton, and as Lisa O’Malley is a passionate supporter of netball, I’m pleased she has been able to deliver this key election commitment on behalf of her community.

“Importantly, the State Government has engaged a local company, the Buildwell Group, to manage this project. Their support for local contractors on the project will help support local jobs and the economy in the southern suburbs.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said, “Netball at Gibson Park has been helping create strong, confident and healthy young women in our community for years.

“Once the season kicks off in April, thousands of local girls and their families will be down at Gibson Park every Saturday.

“This Government is proud to invest in women’s sport and deliver first-rate facilities for local families.”

Visitors to Fremantle Prison can now walk in the shadow of Western Australia’s convict past, following the installation of a two-piece 14 metre metal silhouette along the Fairbairn Street entrance ramp.

The new interpretive sculpture depicts a group of life-size convicts and pensioner guards on their arrival to Fremantle, highlighting the ramp’s significance as a historic convict pathway.

The Fairbairn Street ramp was originally built by convict labour from building rubble found on the Fremantle Prison site.

The ramp was the primary pathway along which convicts were led between the prison and convict transport ships anchored at Fremantle Port.

The Fairbairn Street ramp is located in the buffer zone of the World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison site.

“This is a visually striking addition to Fremantle’s heritage narrative,” said Heritage Minister David Templeman.

“The placement of the life-sized group of convicts and guards traversing the prison’s entrance ramp highlights the once harsh purpose of this former convict transport route, giving visitors a stronger insight into our convict past.”

State Member for Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said, “Fremantle Prison is already a heritage icon, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

“This new addition will add to the overall experience of visiting the prison and give visitors an appreciation for what life was like when convicts were building the prison and the ramp.”

Work has started on the extension of one of Perth’s most highly anticipated sections of Principal Shared Path (PSP) along the Fremantle railway line.

The contract to build the project from Grant Street to Victoria Street was awarded to family owned, Perth-based company Keslake Group Pty Ltd.

The construction of the 2.8 kilometre section of PSP will be part of a completely off-road continuous connection from the Perth central business district to Fremantle, catering to not only Town of Cottesloe residents but the wider Perth community and visitors to the State.

The project will also feature a bicycle counter, new lighting, wayfinding signs, pavement markings and landscaping to complement the four-metre-wide PSP, which will provide ample space for all path users to enjoy a safe and comfortable journey.

Following completion of this PSP in mid-2019, the design and construction of the remaining sections between Victoria Street Station and North Fremantle Station will be progressed.

“This section of the Perth to Fremantle path, which comes to a dead end in Cottesloe, has been an issue for more than a decade and the McGowan Government has made its extension a priority,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“We recognised the connectivity and safety benefits of extending the Fremantle Railway PSP, and we made sure the funds were available earlier to get it moving.

“The start of construction on this site marks the beginning of what will be a continuous link between Perth and Fremantle – making the route quicker, safer and more direct for people walking and cycling.

“The project is just one of many planned as part of our record investment which will see $134 million spent on cycling infrastructure in the next four years.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said that completion of the principal shared path will better connect Freo residents with Perth and the Western Suburbs.

“These paths will provide a safe, off-road option for cyclists that’s well integrated with public transport.”

Offences for supplying banned plastic bags in Western Australia come into effect today.

Retailers who supply banned lightweight plastic bags from today (January 1) risk potential prosecution and fines of up to $5,000.

Plastic bag suppliers and manufacturers who provide misleading information when selling bags to retailers can also be prosecuted and fined.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has engaged the National Retail Association as a point of contact for the public and to help educate retailers about their obligations.

Complaints can be lodged with the National Retail Association here. The department will take follow-up compliance and enforcement action.

The State-wide plastic bag bn applies to all retailers – not just supermarkets.

It includes lightweight bags made of plastic – including bags that are biodegradable, degradable or compostable – with handles and a thickness of 35 microns or less.

“We thank the community for getting on board and supporting the McGowan Government’s ban on lightweight plastic bags”, said Acting Environment Minister Simone McGurk.

“From today, it will be illegal for a retailer to offer you a lightweight plastic bag.

“You can help by remembering to take your own reusable bags when you go shopping.

“So be prepared – always have your reusable bags on hand and remember to take them everywhere you go – whether you’re picking up milk from the deli, bread from the bakery or takeaway food from your favourite restaurant.

“Our ban on lightweight plastic bags is making a significant improvement to our environment.

“Since July 1, 2018, we have stopped around 225 million lightweight plastic bags ending up in landfill – or worse still – in our oceans.”

Minister’s office – 6552 5800

Fremantle Prison’s icon ic gatehouse has been set aglow for the State Government’s campaign, 16 Days in WA to Stop Violence Against Women.

Local MP and Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Minister, Simone McGurk joined Fremantle Prison director Paula Nelson on Monday evening as the gatehouse was lit orange for the first time.

As part of the campaign, 16 other landmarks across the State, including Fremantle’s Shipwrecks Museum, will be lit in orange – the international colour for the 16 Days campaign.

The campaign runs between 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and 10 December (Human Rights Day), and aims to raise awareness and educate Western Australians on what they can do or say to make a positive difference.

The statistics about violence against women continue to be stark:

• Every week in Australia, at least one woman is killed by a current or former partner;
• WA has the second highest rate of reported
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are nearly 11 times more likely to die due to assault than non-indigenous women;
• The number of sexual harassment complaints received by WA’s Equal Opportunity Commission doubled in the past year; and
• The total annual cost of violence against women and their children in Western Australia was estimated to be $2.8 billion in 2015-16.

Ms McGurk said that the McGowan Government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing family and domestic violence with $20 million in funding, legislative reform and the introduction of paid family and domestic violence leave for public servants.

She stressed however that Government alone could not solve this complex issue, and that the campaign was about encouraging everyone to play their part – government, business, community services and individuals.

Fremantle Prison will be illuminated from 26 – 29 November and 3 – 10 December, and the WA Shipwrecks Museum from 25 November – 10 December.

Further information about the campaign, including a schedule of lit landmarks can be found here.

Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline: 1800 007 339

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

“Violence against anyone is unacceptable, however it is a shocking fact that most women who are murdered are killed by someone they know, and most women who experience violence do so at the hands of a current or former partner, said State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk.

“I’m really pleased to have such an iconic Freo Landmark reminding the community that we all have a role to play in changing the conversation that allows violence against women to go unchallenged.

“It can be as simple as calling out aggressive or demeaning behaviour, learning where to get support for someone experiencing violence, or starting a conversation with your kids about respect.

Paula Nelson, Director at Fremantle Prison, said Fremantle Prison has an important role in the life of our community.

“We are pleased to support the 16 Days in WA campaign to raise awareness of family and domestic violence by lighting the gatehouse orange.”

A recent ACCC report shows Fremantle Port is leading the nation for freight on rail, with the port boasting the highest proportion of containers carried on rail.

Fremantle Port currently has the highest share of containers carried by rail at 17.9 per cent – well above the national average of 11.4 per cent at the time of the report.

It was also the only port in the country to experience an increase in freight on rail over the last financial year.

The report attributed the McGowan Government’s election commitment to increase the container rail subsidy from $30 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) to $50 as a major driver for the high proportion of freight on rail.

It also noted that most port authorities across Australia recognised the importance of freight on rail and that ‘moving more containers by rail eases congestion in arterial roads servicing ports and relieves noise and air pollution in urban areas near ports’.

The subsidy increase took effect on January 1, 2018. The policy has helped increase the percentage of freight on rail from about 16 per cent in 2017-18, to an 18.3 per cent average in the first quarter of 2018-19.

Close to 102,000 TEU were moved by rail between January and September this year, compared with about 82,000 TEU in the same period last year – removing an additional 15,000 one-way truck movements off roads.

“This ACCC report reinforces that the McGowan Government’s commitment to deliver more creative freight solutions is well on track,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Fremantle Port was the only capital city in Australia to experience an uplift in its share of containers carried by rail – in fact, we are now 57 per cent above the national average.

“This is part of our integrated plan for freight and trade, along with other initiatives such as planning for intermodal terminals, long-term planning for the Inner and Outer Harbours through Westport and making road improvements to ease congestion.”

State Member for Fremantle Simone McGurk said, “the proportion of freight moved by rail fell into the doldrums under the Barnett Liberal Government.

“The McGowan Labor Government is getting freight back on rail and taking trucks off Fremantle roads.

“This means safer, less-congested roads, cleaner air and less noise pollution for our community.”