A CONSERVATION plan for Fremantle Oval was approved by council this week but not everyone is happy about the community consultation process.
The new conservation management plan was revised by Griffiths Architects and replaced the former plan, which was last updated in 1996.
According to the council agenda, the new plan considers the Indigenous history in the oval’s area, as well the upgrades made to the infrastructure and “links” to the Fremantle Football Club’s use of the buildings.
The new CMP also addressed the proposed development of the oval and its proximity to Fremantle Prison, which is a World Heritage Listed icon.
The council conducted community consultation at the end of last year, which detailed the need for the buffer zone around the prison to be protected as per the World Heritage Listing.
Fremantle Society president John Dowson is “absolutely furious” the society’s submission wasn’t in the initial draft CMP.
Mr Dowson says the council – who added the society’s submission to the latest draft – “rushed” the draft plan through and the society had little time to analyse the new document.
“The issue is that all of this has been released just a couple of days ago,” Mr Dowson said.
“There should be a bit more time to digest what is different between the draft and the final document.”
Mr Dowson also pointed out that Griffiths Architects wrote the Heritage Impact Statement for the proposed Fremantle Police Complex: “Why would you hire the person who’s done the commentary for the 100-million-dollar government police complex?”
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the development will “enhance” the area around the heritage-listed prison, which is currently “blighted” by parking and accessibility issues.
“What I sometimes hear is this idea that heritage and conservation means ‘leave everything exactly as it is’,” Ms Fitzhardinge said. “I just don’t hold that to be true, and particularly not in this case.
“The prison, which is so magnificent, is blighted by parking and buses parked out the front… you can’t even get a photograph in front of the place because you’ll probably have a big bus between you and it.
“That’s not heritage, that’s silly – it’s badly planned, really.
“[The Plan] is to try and get the absolute best outcomes, bearing in mind a modern contemporary city… we hope we get a lot more people enjoying the heritage assets around the oval.”
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER