PLANS for large apartment buildings at Fremantle Oval have been abandoned.

A revised vision for the Oval endorsed by Fremantle council’s Strategic and General Services Committee this week instead pins its hopes on a sports and community-focused redevelopment backed by a proposed short-stay accommodation project on the southern edge of the precinct.

Mayor Ben Lawver said the loss of the apartment proposal reflected the city’s failure to secure federal housing funding.

“I think the apartment blocks were contingent upon getting some enabling funding, like the Housing Enabling Fund from the federal government, and the city was not successful in that,” he said.

“I think having a sport and community focus is going to be a great outcome for the precinct.”

The 15-month business case assesses three redevelopment options, all carrying price tags well above $180 million. Option 1, the least ambitious proposal, is estimated to cost about $181 million and focuses on replacing ageing facilities while retaining the existing oval layout. Option 2, the council’s preferred option, carries an estimated cost of about $197 million, while Option 3 is priced at around $194 million.

The preferred option includes a new grandstand and player facilities, upgraded community spaces, hospitality and commercial areas, a gym and health club, improved event infrastructure and public realm works designed to transform the historic oval into a year-round destination.

It also identifies a future opportunity to develop land south of the oval for short-stay accommodation, with lease revenue helping fund the ongoing operation and maintenance of the precinct.

While the overall cost is expected to require substantial WA government investment, the business case argues the preferred option would generate the strongest long-term financial return. 

Revenue

It projects first-year operating revenue of about $1.84 million against operating costs of about $888,000, producing an operating surplus of almost $1 million, with the average annual surplus over the first 25 years forecast to grow to almost $1.5 million. 

The report says revenue would come from commercial leases, hospitality, events, parking, the proposed health club and other community uses, helping reduce the long-term financial burden on ratepayers.

Mr Lawver said the completion of the business case marked the beginning of the next phase.

“Since the election, we’ve been waiting on this business case. So, now that we have the business case, we’ll be submitting that to Treasury and going from there.”

The report argues Fremantle Oval is now one of the state’s highest priorities for WAFL investment because of the age and condition of its facilities. It also points to community research showing Fremantle remains Perth’s preferred destination for watching high-level football.

Mr Lawver said he hoped the redevelopment could also bring the AFL back to the port city.

“I hope so. I’d really like to see the oval get up to a standard where we could get the Dockers back as well.”

He said survey results commissioned as part of the business case demonstrated Fremantle’s enduring appeal.

“In those survey results that came out, a huge majority of people all across Perth identified Fremantle with high calibre footy, and in the preferred locations to go watch footy, Fremantle was number 1.

“The second highest one… was ‘didn’t know’ at 35 per cent and then Leederville at 10 and Cockburn at 7 per cent.

“The survey was 1007 people weighted for gender and age, with 100 coming from Fremantle, so it was a true metro survey. I’ve seen a lot of surveys in my day, but it’s pretty overwhelmingly.”

While the redevelopment has been informed by other WAFL projects, including East Fremantle Oval, Mr Lawver said preserving the identity of South Fremantle Football Club was paramount.

“Whatever we do, we’ve got to make sure that we keep the heart and soul of the Bulldogs in Fremantle. Second, and most important thing is enticing the Dockers to come back, and the third would be more community uses of concerts and festivals and things like that.”

by STEVE GRANT