Fremantle looks towards COVID-19 recovery

The City of Fremantle is looking ahead to life beyond COVID-19 and has begun planning for a strong recovery.

At a meeting last night Fremantle Council agreed to form three special internal working groups dedicated to driving the City’s approach to economic and community recovery over the next 12-18 months.

One working group will be focussed on the local economy, another on community services and the third on infrastructure delivery.

Each working group will be comprised of a number of councillors and relevant senior staff, along with the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the primary role of the working groups will be to work with local businesses and community groups on a plan to guide Fremantle’s recovery from COVID-19.

“It’s been a tough time for local businesses, with many having to close and others reduced to takeaway and delivery services only,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“We need to make sure that when the COVID-19 crisis is over and the restrictions are lifted we’re ready to bounce back quickly and strongly.

“Fremantle is Perth’s favourite entertainment precinct and people who’ve been isolated over the past few months will be looking to get out and enjoy their new found freedom again, so we want to make sure Fremantle is the first place they think to come.

“Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis there have still been a lot of positive developments for Fremantle, with work on the Kings Square Renewal project progressing, the Department of Communities moving into their new headquarters, the completion of The Social apartments in the West End and start of major works on the Little Lane apartments at Westgate Mall.

“Fremantle was already going through a tremendous transformation before COVID-19 hit, and I’m confident we will emerge from this crisis better and stronger than ever.”

A key task of the Economic Recovery Working Group will be to host four external workshops focusing on key streams of Fremantle’s business community - retail, hospitality and tourism; property development and construction; technical, professional and industrial services; and arts and culture.

The feedback from those workshops will be used to create an economic recovery plan for the next 12 months.

The Community Recovery Working Group will also hold workshops with service providers, sporting clubs and other community groups to understand the extent of impacts being faced by different groups in the community and what support may be needed.

The Infrastructure Recovery Working Group will provide the council with advice and recommendations on infrastructure priorities and identify opportunities to capitalise on any stimulus funding on offer through the state and federal governments.