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City of Fremantle to follow up Marine and Harbours request for exclusion zone

5 February 2014

This is a previous article from the Herald, but the City has raised the subject of this request again at its meeting last Monday 3rd Feb 2014. SFB eagerly awaits some action and response from the authorities, and will be continuing to press for an exclusion zone.

Fremantle Herald article on 'stink boats' High-quality image

New FSC Moves

30 December 2013

Recently, Save Freo Beaches became aware of the intention of the Fremantle Sailing Club to continue its push to gain access to South (Dog) Beach. This is despite the overwhelming community and City of Fremantle rejection of the prior Ramp Proposal.

As before, many peripheral issues are being raised by FSC to seek its ends. For example, although excellent disabled water access facilities are now available at Port Coogee, the FSC continues to state that there are no facilities nearby. The FSC has had historical accords with the City that the Dog Beach southern Groyne would not be extended into, however we are now aware of their strong intentions in this regard. Accordingly, the committee of Save Freo Beaches has decided to actively gather further community support to protect the amenity of South Beach by preparing a poster campaign. Michael Adeane has very kindly created the wonderful poster below which states the main points:

Flyer warning of the FSC's proposal to cut through the groyne. Flyer PDF link.

AGM Tomorrow

21 October 2013

The AGM (Annual General Meeting) for the SFBA is tomorrow! Final notice here.

Response from Troy Buswell

13 September 2013

We have a response from the office of Troy Buswell regarding the ramp.

Fremantle council has rejected the launch ramp proposal!

12 June 2013

The City of Fremantle consultation outcome report on the South Beach Universal Access and Dinghy Launch Ramp proposal was unanimously rejected by the Full Council meeting on Wed 22nd of May.

Survey research conducted by Aha! Consulting on the behalf of City of Fremantle indicated strong community opposition to the proposed groyne:

There is a lack of support for the proposal in its current state with 50% opposing the proposal outright and an additional 15% that oppose it but are willing to look at alternatives. In other questions respondents express high levels of concern and interest as well as low levels of support for the proposal.

We also now have a form to sign up as a Supporter of the SFBA - register below and help us out!.

From ‘In Principle’ Support to NOT supporting

19 May 2013

At the meeting of the Fremantle Council’s Strategic and General Services Committee on 8 May, initial support for the Fremantle Sailing Club’s proposed ramp at South Beach was abandoned in preference for NOT supporting it!

This was because the results of the community survey were clear. Of 942 people who responded (a huge response), 50% opposed the proposal outright (ie would not consider any form of development by the FSC) with a further 13% also opposed but willing to consider alternatives to the proposal.

The Fremantle Sailing Club Proposal

The FRBUA has been dormant for several years but is now being activated at the request of members in consideration of the proposal to build a new groyne and ‘universal access ramp’ at the northern end of South Beach.

Brief Background

The Save Freo Beaches Alliance was formed on 2nd January 2008, in response to the WA Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s proposed ‘Three Harbours’ policy, which would have laid the groundwork for a massive marina development off Fremantle.

Despite the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s consultation process being described as ‘world’s best practice’, most beach users were oblivious to the proposed development in December 2007.

Throughout January 2008 and leading up to the closure of public comment on the Three Harbours Policy on February 1st, the SFBA worked tirelessly to bring the proposed marina/harbour development to the attention of beach users.

The SFBA held awareness and fund raising concerts featuring local musicians, including John Butler. 650 members were signed up. 1300 individual submissions based on an SFBA proforma were collected to add to the many that had been submitted independently. A petition presented to Parliament had 6665 signatures.

In short, there was an extraordinary groundswell of opposition to the proposed development and support for the Save Freo Beaches Alliance in its efforts to protect the beaches. The then Minister for Planning and Infrastructure then abandoned the Three Harbours proposal.

During this period the SFBA established the Fremantle Residents Beach Users Association. The FRBUA was established as an incorporated body in 2008 to give the Save Freo Beaches Alliance (SFBA) a legal entity with which to take legal action (if it was required) when opposing the Three Harbours Policy. It was not dissolved after the success of that campaign in case any similar such proposal was presented.

To strengthen the legal status and hand of the FRBUA it needed to have a membership that was immediate to the location of Fremantle beaches. Hence the name chosen and a requirement that its members must be resident in the State electorate of Fremantle.

Read our official response to the Fremantle Sailing Club proposal >

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