FREMANTLE council is poised to release its latest vision for North Fremantle after using feedback from a consultation process earlier this year to draft up several scenarios.
The City’s media advisor Emily Groves says the “pulse check” will help refine the North Fremantle City Plan and beef up its advocacy around the Cook government’s integrated transport plans for the project.
“Once the second round of engagement wraps up early in the new year, City officers will finalise the draft, seek council endorsement for advertising, put it out for advertising, review the submissions, and prepare the final version to be brought back to council for their adoption, ideally before mid-2026,” Ms Groves said.
Framework
Launched in May 2024, the city plan aims to create a long-term framework for housing, transport, coastal management and cultural heritage.
North Fremantle Community Association convener Gerard MacGill said several major projects were affecting the area, including proposals to expand transport links, introduce high-rise development and intensify use of the foreshore.
“One of these proposals is the north–south transport links and, importantly, Curtin Avenue joining up with Stirling Highway to go across Stirling Bridge. That would be hugely destructive of North Fremantle,” Mr MacGill said.
The WA Planning Commission has earmarked land around Stirling Highway and Tydeman Road as a planning control area to allow for future road upgrades, including the Curtin Avenue extension. With the Fremantle Traffic Bridge set to close for major works in early 2026, residents are worried about the potential disruption.
Mr MacGill said the scale of ongoing development made it critical for the community’s voice to be heard.
“It hopes to achieve a solid position with which to deal with government proposals,” he said.
“The importance of this city plan cannot be overestimated; it’s a very important moment in time.”
The City’s engagement report shows residents are keen to see growth balanced with protection of North Fremantle’s coastal character and heritage.
“We want a community which has its own identity, but is well connected to other places,” Mr MacGill said.
Leighton Action Coalition representative Grant Revell said coastal erosion was already having a major impact on the suburb’s beaches, warning that further loss could permanently change the landscape.
“The coast will always win out, whether it’s from climate change, rising sea levels, or storm surges that North Fremantle has a history of,” he said.
“The conservation zones around Leighton Beach are generous, but as you move towards Port Beach, protection areas are extremely limited. You only have to look at the car parks there — they’re practically wetlands now.”
Mr Revell said a more holistic approach was needed to protect the coastline.
“Any North Fremantle community plan needs to take the coastal fringe seriously. Twenty metres of restored dunes isn’t enough anymore.
Walls
“We’ve been advocating for a stronger, landscape-based approach, not just retaining walls. Let’s understand the coast and work with it.”
He said the city plan also offered a chance for more innovative urban design.
“There’s already that old wooden shed opposite Coast — it could become a fantastic series of eateries or amenities if redeveloped properly.
‘We could have a coastal reserve in front, parking pulled back, and a balance between conservation and commercial land use.
“The new plan is a great opportunity; North Freo has always had a great community mix, and we need to preserve that.”
Community engagement has been strong, with reports showing 86 per cent of submissions came from within the Fremantle council area — and 67 per cent of those from North Fremantle itself.
by ISAAC ROGERS