(23/8/2018) Fremantle Oval redevelopment moves to next phase

The City of Fremantle has taken the next step towards the redevelopment of the historic Fremantle Oval precinct.

For the past nine months a reference group with representatives from the City, state government departments, local sporting clubs, Notre Dame University, Fremantle Prison and Fremantle Chamber of Commerce has been working to develop the broad vision and design principles for the redevelopment.

Last night the Fremantle Council endorsed that vision and authorised the City’s chief executive officer to form a partnership approach with the state government’s land development agency Landcorp to progress the plan.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the redevelopment of Fremantle Oval and the surrounding land was a top priority for the City.

“The oval precinct is one of five key strategic sites highlighted in our Freo2029  Transformational Moves strategy that seeks to revitalise the centre of Fremantle,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The return of Fremantle Oval to community hands last year gives us a great opportunity to reconnect the oval to the city centre and re-establish it as the premier sporting location in Fremantle.

“The reference group has done some great work to nail down what we want to get out of this project and the principles that will guide the development as we move forward, and I really thank them for their efforts so far.

“Given that most of the land in the precinct is Crown land it makes sense to work with Landcorp on the next phase of the project. Importantly, this partnership approach is designed to prevent ad hoc and uneven development in one of Fremantle’s iconic locations.

“I’m really looking forward to working with them to investigate the feasibility of redeveloping the oval in accordance with the vision and design principles we’ve just agreed on.”

As part of the vision for the project Fremantle Oval will become an enhanced sporting centre, including potentially being the home of both South Fremantle and East Fremantle WAFL clubs and a WAFL centre of excellence, as well as catering for cricket matches, AFLW games and cultural events.

Surplus land around the oval precinct offers the potential for a range of community, residential and commercial uses as well as better public connections through the area. The exact mix of development will be identified through the next stages of planning and feasibility work.

Design principles for the project include ensuring the precinct provides green spaces for city workers, residents and visitors; has appropriate height, mass and setbacks and improves the physical connections between the oval, Fremantle Prison and the city centre.

Community engagement will happen once a draft plan and options are developed for the precinct.