THE historic and iconic South Fremantle power station will fall within Fremantle borders while Point Walter Reserve in Bicton will stay in Melville, under the latest, ever-changing WA local government merger plans.
The WA local government advisory board has released new suggestions for Melville and Cockburn city councils following strong community opposition to earlier plans.
The latest proposal, a request from Melville council, keeps Point Walter Reserve and the golf course in Melville, with the rest of Bicton and Palmyra carved off into a bigger Fremantle.
Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt describes the recommended change as “a bit silly”.
“We don’t think Melville keeping hold of Point Walter is sensible, it has always been part of Bicton,” he says.
“It’s a bit silly: if you draw a straight line down Stock Road you would see that the vast majority of those reserves would lie within the City of Fremantle.”
The new proposal for Cockburn—based on a plan from the local community steering committee—sees the power station sucked into Fremantle and Hamilton Hill split in two.
The council appears resigned to losing rates-lucrative North Coogee and most of Hamilton Hill to Freo, but wants the boundary redrawn along the Roe 9 reserve, not Phoenix Road.
Cockburn mayor Logan Howlett says under the previous proposal the council was set to lose the suburb of Bibra Lake and all of Hamilton Hill.
“The intended recommendation enables Cockburn to retain much of its historical and cultural infrastructure, including Memorial Hall, which was built by the community early last century,” he says.
“The city retains Bibra Lake, which is a treasured community asset, and one which the city has restored and managed for many years.
“The position now sees our works depot back in Cockburn which will ensure a more cost-effective and efficient delivery of parks, environment, roads, waste collection and rangers services and eliminates the need to expend upwards of $35 million to construct a new depot at some time into the future.”
Dr Pettitt says Freo opposes the Roe 9 boundary saying it would “effectively split Hamilton Hill and I don’t think [Roe 9] will ever be built”.
“Although we are in favour of Cockburn’s proposal for South Fremantle power station to become part of Fremantle.”
Walgab chair Mel Congerton says because the board is now “considering borders significantly different from the proposals advertised recently” it is legally required to enter a new round of consultation.
The new maps impact Melville, Canning, Gosnells, Fremantle, East Fremantle, Kwinana and Cockburn
The deadline for submissions on the new boundaries is September 15.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK