Change is coming to Fremantle at this year's local government election.
The number of wards has been reduced from six to four, and the number of Councillors will go from 12 to 10 at this election, and to eight at the next election in 2025.
Local government elections around Western Australia, including Fremantle, will be held on Saturday 21 October 2023.
In January this year, the City of Fremantle agreed to reduce the number of wards and Councillors, to align with the local government reforms made by the State Government.
The ward boundaries were reviewed and adjusted to account for changes in population density and to provide more equal representation.
Voters will be automatically sent a ballot paper for their new ward by the WA Electoral Commission.
A map showing the new ward boundaries can be viewed at: fremantle.wa.gov.au/new-wards
There are four Council positions up for election this year. One for each of the new wards for a four-year term. Candidate nominations open on Thursday 31 August 2023.
The terms of six sitting members (Cr Geoff Graham, Cr Rachel Pemberton, Cr Su Groome, Cr Frank Mofflin, Cr Bryn Jones and Cr Marija Vujcic) expire at this election.
As part of the City's transition to the new ward representation numbers, the other six Councillors not up for election will be allocated new wards as follows:
| New Wards | 2023 Election | Continuing Councillors |
| Central | One vacancy | Cr Jenny Archibald |
| Coastal | One vacancy | Cr Adin Lang Cr Andrew Sullivan |
| East | One vacancy | Cr Ben Lawver Cr Fedele Camarda |
| North | One vacancy | Cr Doug Thompson |
The number of elected members will be further reduced from 10 to eight at the 2025 election, resulting in two elected representatives per ward, plus the Mayor. This will conclude the transition.
City of Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge, who is elected until 2025, said despite the changes to ward boundaries, the representation of the community would remain the same.
"Once a Councillor is elected, they are required by the Local Government Act to make decisions for the whole of Fremantle, not just the ward they are elected in," Mayor Fitzhardinge said.
