THERE’S a lot happening in Fremantle’s east end this week: the Woolies ledge has officially been retained, and a nice shiny new Coles has opened on Queen Street.
At a five-hour-long Development Assessment Panel meeting on Tuesday evening, the ledge was included in a specific carve-out which will allow 85 per cent of the renowned skate spot to be retained as part of the wider Elders Woolstores development.
Across the road, Coles has finally opened in the other heritage Woolstores building still standing on the corner of Cantonment and Queen Streets as part of the Silverleaf development.
Silverleaf director Gerard O’Brien says the development, which has been in the works for almost a decade, is a “phenomenal” investment which he hopes will draw more retailers and residents back to the somewhat dreary end of town.
• Coles opened in the revamped Woolstores Shopping Centre this week. Photo by Katherine Kraayvanger
“If we can keep getting these retailers back, we’ll have the heart of Fremantle pumping again, and from there you can bring back people to live here, and bring vibrancy and security,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It’s great to see tenants [like Coles] wanting to reinvest, because that’s the crux of what will drive Fremantle forward.
“The building is nothing without the people in it to make it work.”
The Woolstores building will also be home to restaurants, a medical centre, and a childcare centre.
Fremantle Chamber of Commerce CEO Chrissie Maus says the supermarket’s opening will be a “catalyst for the revitalisation” of Freo’s east end, which she describes as being “neglected for decades”.
“This Coles and Silverleaf development stands as a proud example of how we can thoughtfully modernise and activate vacant heritage sites,” Ms Maus said.
“It is a chance to move beyond stagnation and into a thriving, modern Fremantle that still respects its roots.”
Fremantle Society president John Dawson has criticised the ledge’s preservation, saying it might force the Adrian Fini-led developer Human Urban to walk away from a “risky venture”.
Mr Dowson said it would be a “tragedy” if Mr Fini dropped the project.
“Despite The Fremantle Society concerns that too much of the heritage fabric is going to be destroyed (and council officers agreed when they recommended a refusal based on that), the overall high quality proposal with a variety of inviting public and private uses is streets ahead of any previous proposals.
“Fremantle council must do what it can to encourage Adrian Fini to urgently get on with the project,” Mr Dowson said.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER