THE commercial transformation of Victoria Quay is at risk from the Barnett government’s model to privatise the port, warns Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt.
On Tuesday, WA treasurer Mike Nahan outlined to the chamber of commerce his government’s rationale and plans for the 99-year lease. His presentation included an illustration showing C and D sheds are inside the privatisation envelope.
“The Victoria Quay master plan had as key elements the C and D sheds,” Dr Pettitt told the Herald.
“It was a part of the requirements to see them restored and become a food and beverage precinct linking to the water.”
He notes Fremantle Ports’ own illustrations depict happy customers clustered around the restored sheds.
Their inclusion in the quay’s transformation had also been signed off by the WA planning commission.
With no major port operations anywhere along the length of Vic Quay, the mayor says the lot should be redeveloped into a mix of retail, office, entertainment and housing.
He says two of the companies interested in bidding for the port lease have told him Vic Quay doesn’t feature in their plans. But he says they warned him that if the buildings formed part of the lease they would maximise their use. Dr Pettitt is concerned that could lead to towers of containers being stacked on the quay.
Dr Nahan says Dr Pettitt’s plan for the quay is “significantly flawed”. He maintains there’s still plenty of growth potential at Fremantle — hence the need for the Perth Freight Link — and an outer harbour won’t be needed for 25 years. The outer harbour contract, valued at anywhere between $2 billion and $5 billion, would be offered to whomever won the Fremantle lease.
This week the Australian Financial Review newspaper reported that the Dutch government was making a bid for Fremantle, via the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s biggest port, turning over €600 million a year.
The AFR says its pitch will include its ability to capture a bigger share of the global market.
The port privatisation is expected to net the Barnett government $2 billion, but Dr Pettitt says his plan would reap a bigger reward.
He bases his sums on a report prepared for the council by planning consultants MacroPlan Dimasi which found Vic Quay’s redevelopment would earn the government $946 million over 20 years. Dr Pettitt says further economic benefit would come from not having to sink $1.9 billion into the freight link, just to get a tunnel to Stirling Bridge.
Earlier this week premier Colin Barnett told ABC Radio the final leg of the link, between Stirling Bridge and north quay, probably won’t be completed until 2026, leading to traffic delays in North Fremantle till then.
by STEVE GRANT
