Walyalup Civic Centre taking shape

A new time lapse video released by the City of Fremantle shows how construction of the City’s new civic centre and library building has progressed over the past year.

The $41.3 million Walyalup Civic Centre is the City of Fremantle’s main contribution to the $270 million Kings Square Renewal project, which the City is undertaking in partnership with Sirona Capital.

It has been exciting to watch the Walyalup Civic Centre taking shape over the past year.

It’s hard to believe it was at this time last year that we held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of construction on our new building.

Since then it’s been incredible to see the building that we were all so familiar with from the concept drawings taking shape right before our eyes, to the point where features like the library, the sloped lawn of the outdoor room and the central drum housing the council chamber are now easily recognisable.

The City’s infrastructure team and our builders Pindan have been doing a great job and the project has been progressing smoothly.

While the outbreak of COVID-19 has unfortunately affected Pindan’s supply chain and delayed the importation of some materials, the team have worked together really well to resequence the works and ensure that any potential delay in the completion of the building is kept to a minimum.

When it’s finished it will be an amazing facility that everyone in Fremantle can be proud of and one that will be enjoyed by generations to come.”  

The building, designed by the internationally renowned Fremantle firm Kerry Hill Architects built by WA construction company Pindan, will feature a stunning modern library, fully accessible toilets and change facilities, a state-of-the-art information and customer service centre, a wide range of community meeting rooms and gallery and exhibition spaces integrated with the Town Hall.

It will also be one of the most energy efficient buildings of its size in Australia and showcase a wide array of sustainability features.

The City is also rejuvenating the public spaces around Kings Square, including a new Fremantle-themed adventure playground featuring cranes, bridges, train tracks and shipping containers as well as natural elements like water and trees.

Sirona Capital’s contribution to the Kings Square Renewal project includes the redevelopment of the old Myer and Queensgate sites to create offices for state government departments and the revolutionary FOMO food, art and retail concept.

The first 300 staff from the Department of Communities moved into their new head office last month. It’s expected that by the end of June more than 1700 staff from the Department of Communities and Department of Transport will have relocated to Kings Square.

For more information on the Kings Square Renewal Project visit the Kings Square Fremantle website, or watch this video.

To watch the Walyalup Civic Centre time lapse video click here.

Keep your distance to keep your beaches

With warm and sunny weather forecast for the Easter break, Fremantle beach lovers are being reminded to maintain physical distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The latest directive from the state government is that people should stay at home and only leave home to go to work, shop for essential supplies, attend a medical appointment, make a compassionate visit or for personal exercise on your own or with one other person.

Public gatherings, excluding household members, have been reduced to a maximum of two people.

The state government has also introduced $1000 on-the-spot fines for people caught flouting the restrictions.

It has been pleasing to see the overwhelming majority of people doing the right thing with physical distancing at beaches.

We really need to keep up the good work because the Premier has instructed the WA Police Commissioner to shut down any beaches if there are large gatherings or other breaches of the physical distancing directives.

At the risk of stating the obvious – by all means go for a swim or a walk or a run, but ensure you minimise contact with other people and stay at least 1.5 metres apart.

When you’re done with your swim, run or walk, don’t linger – go home.

The same applies for our parks and other public places like Monument Hill.

The reality is the more we stay at home the better chance we have of stopping this virus.

In line with health advice from the state and federal governments the City of Fremantle has closed public showers and water fountains at beaches and parks to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

For the latest updates about City of Fremantle services and facilities visit the COVID-19 page on our website.

For more information about COVID-19 and the state government restrictions in place visit www.healthywa.wa.gov.au.

TOGETHER

Thanks to Roel Loopers and his Freoview blog for this scoop:

SIRONA CAPITAL posted this stunning photo of the Fremantle Henderson Street carpark artwork, which is part of the Kings Square Redevelopment Project, with the text below, so I need to share that of course!

Freo’s New Giant Mural TOGETHER – A Symbol of Community Spirit

A striking new 2,000sqm artwork on the façade of Fremantle’s FOMO building stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity in these uncertain times.

Titled TOGETHER, the work is the brainchild of renown London-born artist Morag Myerscough and spells out the word in enormous colourful letters along the façade of the
Kings Square car park on Henderson Street.

Visible from as far away as Monument Hill, the work has a new resonance as the people of Perth and beyond face the challenges of staying connected while maintaining social
distancing and remaining at home.

With Morag’s famous work around the world centred on creating a sense of joy and belonging for all those who encounter it, we hope the people of Fremantle and Perth take some comfort in TOGETHER and the knowledge we are not alone in facing this trial.

TOGETHER is Morag Myerscough’s first permanent artwork in Australia.

• 

WA’s biggest Aboriginal art market goes online

Western Australia’s largest Aboriginal art market will continue to offer remote and regional artists the opportunity to earn much needed income by going online.

The Revealed 2020 Art Market was due to be held in the gardens at Fremantle Arts Centre today and tomorrow but had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

Fremantle Arts Centre Director Jim Cathcart said art lovers are still able to support Aboriginal artists by purchasing works online.

“The Revealed Art Market is a massive annual event that provides a hugely important source of income for the artists and the regional and remote communities they support,” Mr Cathcart said.

“Last year more than $500,000 in market sales went directly to artists and art centres across the state, so while it was absolutely necessary to cancel this year’s event it will have a drastic impact on the artists and their capacity to generate income through sales.

“We’ve put together a list of artworks available to order from WA’s 25 Aboriginal art centres and a number of independent Aboriginal artists who were set to exhibit.

“We’re also compiling a catalogue of the works that would have been in this year’s exhibition and details about how to purchase works will be released shortly.

“An online order will help provide some financial support to these artists who have sadly been impacted by the event’s cancellation.”

To purchase artworks from Revealed artists online visit the Support WA’s Aboriginal Artists page on the Fremantle Arts Centre website.

To take a virtual tour of last year’s Revealed Exhibition click here.

Buy local and support Freo businesses

To assist community efforts to support Fremantle traders the City of Fremantle has compiled lists of local businesses that are continuing to trade throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

The visitfremantle.com.au website has been adapted to provide lists and articles about Fremantle cafes and restaurants that are offering takeaway and delivery meals, places to go for bread, groceries and other supplies, and shops where you can browse and order online.

The website also includes a list of curriculum-aligned educational resources from Fremantle attractions like Fremantle Prison and WA Maritime Museum, so kids can continue to learn and engage with Fremantle even though the attractions are closed.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said it was more important than ever for the community to get behind Fremantle businesses and shop local. 

“Fremantle might be strangely quiet on the surface but many Freo businesses are still working hard in the background, whether it’s delivering your food favourites or operating online versions of the stores you know and love,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“And of course there are still a number of businesses whose doors are still open and are continuing to provide important services to the community.

“While it’s obviously very important to abide by the rules in relation to physical distancing, with the City of Fremantle now offering free on-street parking it’s never been easier to pop into town and pick up a tasty takeaway or grab some essential items.

“When the current troubles with COVID-19 are behind us Fremantle will bounce back better and stronger than ever.

“We want to make sure that all of our favourite Freo places are still there when we get to the other side of this crisis, so now is the time to support Fremantle businesses and shop local.”

Fremantle businesses that want to be included on the Visit Fremantle lists can contact the City via email at marketing@fremantle.wa.gov.auor tag @visitfremantle on Facebook or Instagram.

For information on Fremantle cafes and restaurants offering takeaway and delivery services go to visitfremantle.com.au –  What’s on the menu.

For information on groceries stores, bakeries and breweries got to visitfremantle.com.au – Where to get your groceries.

For information about other Fremantle shops that are still open for business go to visitfremantle.com.au – Online shopping.

For information about learning resources available from key Fremantle attractions go to visitfremantle.com.au – Learning in lockdown.

Support Freo Businesses during the COV19 shutdown

Fremantle might be strangely quiet on the surface but many Freo businesses are still working hard in the background, whether it delivering food favs or online versions of the stores delivered straight to your front door.

And of course there’s those with their doors still open.

The City of Fremantle has pulled together some great lists so you can continue to shop Freo.

If we’ve missed anything let us know.

https://www.visitfremantle.com.au/taste/what-s-on-the-menu

https://www.visitfremantle.com.au/taste/where-to-get-your-groceries

https://www.visitfremantle.com.au/play/online-shopping

Photo by Kate and Abel

RETAIL SHOPS

City of Fremantle support for local business

City of Fremantle support for local business

Free on-street parking and up to six months deferral of rent payments on City-owned properties are some of the measures the City of Fremantle has put in place to help businesses through the COVID-19 crisis.

The City will also defer all statutory fees for six months and has waived alfresco dining fees.

The business relief measures are designed to supplement the COVID-19 support already being offered by the state and federal governments.

This is clearly a very difficult time for local businesses, with many of them restricted to online or take-away trade and others choosing to close down altogether.

“The City has taken steps to take some of the pressure off local businesses by deferring rent payments for tenants of City-owned properties and deferring or waiving a number of fees and charges for other businesses.

“We will also negotiate with City tenants on a case-by-case basis to make adjustments to outgoings like power and water, and we will offer individual payment plans on council rates to those who are experiencing financial hardship.

“I expect we will be making further announcements about rates in the coming days.”

The free on-street parking will apply until the end of June and may be extended beyond that if necessary.

“Time limits will still apply but this will at least make it easier for businesses and residents to access our key retail areas and support those businesses that are still trading in these challenging times,” he said. 

The City of Fremantle, as part of its Small Business Capacity Building Program, has partnered with Business Foundations to deliver complimentary one-on-one advisory sessions to provide information about the federal and state stimulus packages.

A complete list of the state and federal support measures is available through the Grant Guru portal on the City’s website.

Business Foundations can offer the service online, over the phone or face-to-face if required. Advisors will spend an hour with each business providing tailored advice.

To register for a session, which is provided free of charge through the City’s Small Business Capacity Building Program, businesses simply need complete a registration form, select COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Advisory and email to business@fremantle.wa.gov.au.

Immediate business support measures at a glance:

• Free on-street parking in Fremantle for the next three months (posted time limits still apply).
• Up to six months deferral of rent payment on City-owned properties from the time of full or partial closure of the business.
• Waiving of all alfresco dining fees.
• A full refund on all cancelled bookings of City facilities.
• Free access to business support advisory services via the Small Business Capacity Building Program and complimentary one-on-one advisory sessions to provide information about the federal and state stimulus packages.
• Inspection fees waived for food businesses providing take-away.
• Exemptions from planning approvals for many changes of land use and fast tracking other approvals for business.
• Fast-tracking of payment for creditors.
• Continuing to invest in major capital works program in Fremantle including the Kings Square renewal project.
• Promotion of businesses via the City’s Visit Fremantle social media platforms and website.