• Locals say modern railings on the 106-year-old Gilbert Fraser oval grandstand have damaged it. Photo by Justin Stahl

TENSIONS have once again flared between Fremantle council’s management of its heritage assets and the Fremantle Society.

The latest flashpoint has been a new, modern metal railing on the historic grandstand at Gilbert Fraser oval which a council staffer has acknowledged is there partly because something more authentic is “cost-prohibitive”.

The 1913-era grandstand is almost entirely constructed of wood with a tin roof, and originally had timber balustrades, yet some time in the 1980s they were replaced with a rather utilitarian wire and metal fence which the council recently found to be “non-compliant, in poor condition and in need of maintenance”.

Eyesore

But the council’s pool fencing-like replacement has locals up in arms, with North Fremantle Community Association member David Anthony calling it an “eyesore” that had damaged the building. Back in 2014 he copped a $72,000 fine from the council after building a concrete pergola on his nearby heritage-listed property.

Another local quipped “at least we’ll be safe now” as he checked out the railing on his regular walk down to the river.

Society president  John Dowson found the problematic palisade another example of “unacceptable work being carried out, or allowed, in this heritage town”.

“Fremantle council has an obligation to do the right thing with heritage buildings under their control, and set the standard for the rest of the community to follow,” Mr Dowson said.

In a letter to Mr Dowson, the council’s acting director of strategic planning and projects, Phillida Rodic, said the city was sorry if residents were disappointed by the railing, but noted it could be easily be removed and replaced with something more appropriate “when the opportunity arises”.

by JUSTIN STAHL