GREG JONES is a South Freo local
THE South Fremantle landfill site has sat there for years as an uncomfortable reminder of the limits of “redevelopment at all costs”.
It’s contaminated.
It’s unstable.
And it’s not realistically suitable for housing or commercial development.
Yet leaving it barren and fenced off is also a choice – and not a very good one.
There is a far more sensible, community-minded option: turn the site into a native vegetation reserve that delivers real environmental benefits without disturbing what lies beneath.
Fremantle already knows it has a tree-canopy problem.
Our Urban Forest Plan puts current canopy cover at around 13 per cent, well below the 20-30 per cent needed to cool neighbourhoods, support wildlife and make streets more liveable.
The landfill site presents a rare opportunity to add several hectares of green cover in one hit – without displacing residents or demolishing homes.
Native vegetation would stabilise the soil, reduce erosion and improve water retention.
Research from similar projects shows revegetated sites can cut stormwater runoff by up to a quarter, reducing pressure on drainage systems and improving water quality.
Just as importantly, it would help cool the surrounding area.
Barren land absorbs heat.
Vegetated land doesn’t.
Studies show green spaces can reduce local temperatures by up to 2 degrees celsius, with tree canopies lowering surface temperatures by as much as 5C.
In a warming climate, that matters.
Views
Some locals understandably worry about losing ocean views.
That concern deserves to be taken seriously – and it can be addressed.
This is not a proposal to blanket the site with tall trees.
The focus would be on low-growing coastal shrubs and groundcovers that stabilise soil and support biodiversity without blocking sightlines. Taller trees would be limited to carefully selected areas where they make sense.
There are also legitimate concerns about contamination.
Deep-rooted planting is not appropriate on landfill sites, and no one is suggesting otherwise.
Shallow-rooted native species can stabilise the surface without disturbing deeper layers, and some species are known to “lock up” contaminants rather than release them.
With proper soil capping in targeted areas and careful species selection, revegetation can actually improve site safety over time rather than compromise it.
This isn’t radical thinking. It’s cautious, staged and evidence-based.
Start small.
Test planting in low-risk areas.
Monitor soil and water quality.
Expand only where it works.
What’s striking is how achievable this is.
There are state and federal grants specifically designed for contaminated-site rehabilitation and urban greening.
Environmental organisations regularly partner on projects like this, providing expertise and labour.
Community sponsorship – even something as simple as a “sponsor a plant” program – could help build local ownership of the space.
Instead of an eyesore or a never-ending planning headache, the South Fremantle landfill site could become something quietly valuable: a cooling green buffer, a habitat corridor, and a visible sign that not every piece of land has to be built on to be useful.
Sometimes the smartest planning decision is knowing when not to develop – and choosing restoration instead.