• Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt at the Esplanade. Photo by Matthew Dwyer
AN ambitious $4 million masterplan for Fremantle Esplanade, which will take more than five years to implement, has been adopted by council.
It includes a proposal to relocate the Carriage Cafe, whose lease expires in 2019.
The council allocated $465,000 this year for small upgrades and has earmarked $886,000 to be spent over the next two years.
Works earmarked for 2016-18 include formalisation of a central north-south pathway, lighting and signage to Fishing Boat harbour, and a path and lighting between Essex Street and the youth plaza.
Long-term, the council wants a “park hub” for community and commercial facilities and a new toddlers’ playground.
Expressions of interest will be sought in early 2016 for potential commercial tenants.
The plan supports the Esplanade’s continued use as a venue for a “limited number” of events but calls for other sites—such as Fremantle Oval, which is losing the Dockers—to be considered as alternative events venues.
The council has already committed to staging the Chilli, Winter, and Craft Beer and Food Festivals at the Esplanade until 2017, and the Laneway Festival until 2018, with a five-year option.
Mayor seeks permission for romantic getaway
ASKING permission to use the car so you can take your girl for a spin is something you hope to be done with in your teens.
But it’s exactly what Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt had to do this week.
Keen to take his special lady on a romantic new year’s getaway — a 1400km round trip to Esperance — in the council-owned Holden Volt Hybrid, he had to first seek the council’s permission.
That’s because the trip exceeds the 400km limit for private use.
“The policy was put in place for staff safety so they don’t drive into the desert or too far north,” council CEO Graeme Mackenzie said, matter of fact.
As Dr Pettitt left the chamber so the vote could be held, the motion raised a few chuckles from most councillors, but Cr Sam Wainwright said he was “pretty uncomfortable with it and [it] was not a good look for council”.
“Listen, it’s not really the actual motion I have a problem with, it’s more the general policy which needs tweaking.”
Dr Pettitt says he’ll use new electric charging stations dotted along the coast and will pay for any petrol.
The Chook understands he’s been instructed to phone the CEO on arrival, to let him know he got there safely, and that he’s been given a talking to about the birds and the bees.
Stories by STEPHEN POLLOCK