(30/8/2018) Fremantle Council endorses High Street plan

Fremantle Council has endorsed Main Roads WA’s revised plan for the upgrade of High Street.

The state government last year committed $118 million to upgrade High Street, from Carrington Street to Stirling Highway, to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.

A concept plan released by Main Roads in March included a roundabout at the intersection of High Street and Stirling Highway, a wide median to separate traffic and preserve significant trees, and a new service road for residents on the northern side of High Street.

Following extensive community consultation, underpasses under High Street and Stirling Highway were added to the revised plan to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.

At a special meeting last night the council endorsed the revised plan and also consented to the excision of land from A Class and C Class reserves along High Street to accommodate the project.

To offset the loss of land from the High Street reserves the council is seeking to exchange it for Main Roads land on Clontarf Hill.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the changes represented a significant win for the community and the City of Fremantle, especially when considering how far the proposal had come since the upgrade of High Street was first mooted almost a decade ago.

“I think everyone recognises the need to improve safety and ease congestion at the intersection of High Street and Stirling Highway,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“The earlier upgrade proposals were way over the top and would have had a huge impact on the local community, but the latest plan does a good job of balancing road safety and efficiency with the amenity, safety of residents and impacts on the recreation reserves.

“I thank Main Roads and the state government for their cooperative approach on this project so far and look forward to finalising the details and resolving the last few outstanding issues.”

The widening of High Street will mean people using the Frank Gibson Park netball courts will no longer be able to park on the verge next to the Fremantle public golf course, but the project will provide parking bays on the new service road and in Wilkson Street.

The project will also result in the loss of two holes on the Fremantle public golf course, and the community facility on the corner of Montreal Street.

Main Roads, in consultation with the City, has engaged golf course architects to provide options to reconfigure the course on the basis it remains a 9-hole, par 34 course with comparable practice facilities and clubhouse, and minimal impact on trees and Booyeembara Park.

It is proposed the reconfiguration of the golf course and its facilities, any impact on Booyeembara Park and the replacement of the community facility will be subject to a funding agreement in which Main Roads will cover the costs and the City will undertake the works.

For more information visit the High Street Upgrade page on the Main Roads website.