THE federal government’s decision to put the Leeuwin Barracks site on the market has come with few details for East Fremantle, but mayor Tony Natale says the town hopes to help shape what comes next.
“We hadn’t heard anything about it before it was announced publicly, though we’ve known that it was likely to happen at some stage,” Mr Natale said.
“But it’s way too early to tell about when it will happen.
“From our perspective, I think that the council can play an important role in shaping how it can be planned and developed, but the property is owned by the Department of Defence and it has to go through the Commonwealth government and also the state government.”
The Albanese government this week confirmed Leeuwin Barracks was among dozens of Defence sites slated for sale, part of what it called “the most significant reform to the Defence estate ever” following a review that found many sites were “legacy” holdings with no clear link to current or future capabilities.
Mr Natale said the town would push for a strong consultation process, drawing on earlier planning work.
• Josh Wilson and Lisa O’Malley at Leeuwin. Photo supplied
“Back around 2016 there was a charrette process… about what that site could look like when it was first put up for sale,” he said.
“I would hope that we will dust those plans off and use that as a starting point… and then from that point, we’ll look at the opportunity to consult again with any updated information.”
He said the earlier plans balanced development with heritage and public access.
“I think the plan showed mixed density, it showed lots of green space, it recognised the surroundings, recognised the river and the importance of the river to the site,” he said.
“More importantly, it recognised the clubs that use the river as their place… our focus will be to maintain that whole connection for the clubs and for the heritage of the site.”
Mr Natale said the site carried deep local significance.
“Obviously the Navy people have been there since 1941, and the army’s moved in after that point,” he said. “It was a training ground for cadets… and it’s produced many thousands of cadets, including retired senior Navy personnel.”
He said the heritage of the parade ground and drill hall should be protected.
“My expectation is that it will all be kept under the notion of recognising those that have been there before, and the heritage of the area,” he said.
Federal Fremantle MP Josh Wilson said the sale presented a rare opportunity. “Release of this significant 14-hectare site in East Fremantle provides a rare and special opportunity for our community to address the growing demand for housing, recreational, commercial, and public open space with sensitivity and without expanding Perth’s metropolitan footprint,” he said.
Mr Wilson said he hoped earlier consultation work would continue.
“I was glad to have contributed to the previous public consultation about this site and look forward to picking up that effort with the community and the Town of East Fremantle to ensure that development of the Leeuwin Barracks site produces the best possible outcome for the whole community.
“Established as a naval depot and later used for army training and logistics, Leeuwin Barracks has served various Defence purposes for 85 years, and although its time as a useful Defence asset has long passed it’s important that we recognise the legacy – good and bad – of this place,” he said.
Bicton MLA Lisa O’Malley said the announcement could unlock long-standing community ambitions.
“Today’s exciting announcement opens the way to progress long-held plans and aspirations by the Town of East Fremantle and the local community,” she said.
“With many families and businesses in our community embracing cleaner energy, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity such a significant site will provide in the climate-change and renewable energy space.
“Having participated in previous community consultations, I look forward to working with the local community and all stakeholders in progressing this exciting opportunity.”
Mr Natale said he already lobbying to increase community access to Leeuwin, specifically at Anzac Day, where a little known service was made invite-only two years ago.
“I’ve been going there for over 10 years now, and I was speaking to someone in Defence late last year, and I commented that I was sitting in the audience and we had people on the other side of the fence, and that just wasn’t a good look.
“We were trying to re-engage them, to move the fence to include that area, because lots of East Fremantle families, they had children that started their naval career at Leeuwin, so it is important to them, and we need to recognise that.”
by STEVE GRANT