LABOR says it will invest $2.46 million into a South Beach dog exercise area if reinstated at May’s federal election. 

The funding will be used to construct toilets, showers, change rooms, seating, barbeques and bike racks, as well as universal access to the reserve. 

The upgrades were “developed after extensive community consultation” as part of the City of Fremantle’s South Beach Place Plan. 

Federal Fremantle MP Josh Wilson says the “community-led” upgrades will help support the growing number of visitors to the southern end of Marine Terrace. 

• Labor MP Josh Wilson has pledged dog park facilities if re-elected.

“Anyone who loves going down to that part of the coast would know that it’s become more and more popular, particularly with locals – but not just with locals – and yet the facilities that support it are substandard,” Mr Wilson said. 

“[The upgrades] will just help support and sustain all of the folk who go down and enjoy being in that part of the world at a time when that little part of Freo is flourishing.

“This was a bit of a no-brainer.” 

Mr Wilson says it’s not a simple cash splash to help Labor win votes at the May 3 election, the results of which are predicted to be on a knife’s edge. 

“This is something I’ve been involved in for quite a long time,” Mr Wilson said. 

“This is an election announcement, there’s no two ways about it, but sometimes people have an idea that nothing happens for two and a half years and then suddenly there’s all these announcements. 

“We’re in caretaker [mode] now…nobody makes new decisions in caretaker mode because the election has been called, so things that are announced at this point can only be election commitments.”

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER