- Local consultation informs first study for future of Fremantle once new Kwinana port established
- New container terminal paves the way for transformation of Fremantle Port
- Potential to deliver thousands of homes for up to 55,000 new residents, 45,000 jobs and $13.6 billion in Gross State Product
A long-term visionary plan to transform Fremantle Port into one of the southern hemisphere's great waterfront cities has been endorsed by the Cook Labor Government.
The plan follows a $273 million Cook Labor Government commitment for detailed planning to move container trades to the new Westport terminal in Kwinana by the late 2030s.
The Future of Fremantle Place and Economic Vision considers opportunities to unlock the port precinct's potential by transforming the harbour into a vibrant, contemporary and sustainable expansion of the historic city of Fremantle.
Consisting of 260 hectares of land and 10 kilometres of ocean and river frontage from Victoria Quay to Leighton and down to Rous Head, the area is comparable in size to some of the world's largest and most transformative port redevelopments such as Barangaroo (Sydney), Canary Wharf (London), and HafenCity (Hamburg).
Once container port services are relocated, the remaining land and adjacent area has capacity for:
- up to 45,000 additional jobs across diversified industry sectors;
- up to 20,000 new homes including social housing;
- up to 55,000 new residents;
- potential to generate $13.6 billion in Gross State Product annually; and
- a prosperous, globally significant district that would attract international commercial and investment opportunities.
The plan aims to create a place that embodies the spirit of Fremantle - a resilient, adaptable, hardworking and welcoming city - while also capturing the important cultural significance that the area, Walyalup, holds for Aboriginal people.
It adopts a long-term 50-year redevelopment horizon to be staged as land becomes available through the relocation of trades, and creates new opportunities for tourism, maritime industries, education, culture and the arts, and research and development.
It embraces innovation and sustainable urban lifestyles through walkable and well-connected streets and stronger connections between Fremantle and its waterfront. Large areas of the site are dedicated to parks and green open spaces with a managed response proposed to protect Port and Sandtrax beaches from further coastal erosion.
The harbour will continue to cater for passenger cruise, visiting naval and recreational vessels.
The plan for Fremantle's future was prepared by the Western Australian Planning Commission's Future of Fremantle Planning Committee through a wide-ranging, two-year planning and investigation process.
More than 12 months of extensive community and stakeholder engagement, and over 1,000 ideas and comments, have helped inform the plan with input from interest groups, the City of Fremantle, local businesses and community organisations, Aboriginal Elders, youth focus groups and the wider community.
See the Future of Fremantle Place and Economic Vision Future of Fremantle for more information.
As stated by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti:
"We have committed $273 million to progress detailed planning for a new container port, setting up Western Australia for the next century.
"By relocating these services further south on our coastline, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our harbour city and deliver new maritime, tourism, housing, employment and cultural experiences in Fremantle.
"It is important to plan for the future now by understanding the capacity and potential of this iconic part of our coastline and the economic opportunities it can deliver for the future of our State - including an extra $13.6 billion in Gross State Product."
As stated by Planning Minister John Carey:
"We have this opportunity to reimagine the next evolution of Fremantle through the redevelopment of the port precinct - into a new iconic destination.
"This is a bold vision that will reinforce Fremantle's identity as an eclectic, dynamic and resilient waterfront city and one of the world's great places to live, work and visit.
"We have the opportunity for a transformative change for Fremantle over the next 20-40 years and this project has provided the first steps for sustainable growth that will deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for Western Australians."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"Firstly, I want to thank the Fremantle community for their input at this early stage of planning.
"This important framework which will help underpin future work in what we know is a huge parcel of land. Redevelopment of this scale will transform the harbour precinct into aworld-classdestination and bring a new era of investment toFremantleand the wider region.
"We have embraced Fremantle's rich history and its critical importance to Aboriginal people and created a vision that sets out to shape Fremantle as one of the world's great waterfront cities and a major economic driver for Western Australia over the next 50 years and beyond.
"It has been a great privilege for me and my colleague Lisa O'Malley, the Member for Bicton, to work with the Future of Fremantle Planning Committee and supporting Aboriginal and project reference groups, as well as the many local people who care deeply about the future of Fremantle and who have contributed to this city-defining vision."
