Final siren yet to sound for Shark Park

by Glenn Roscoe

April 25, 2008

EAST Fremantle council is expecting a backlash from ratepayers over the proposed mixed use redevelopment on East Fremantle Oval.

Having recently expressed their views on the issue, both in writing and at community consultation nights, residents’ main objections would surround the mixed use development along Marmion Street, council CEO Stuart Wearne told eMU News.

“This type of development is historically unusual for the area, but forms a critical component of the redevelopment project,” Mr Wearne said. “By selling this land for residential and commercial use, the council is in fact raising the necessary capital to complete the proposed football complex, entry gates and pathways.”

The controversial redevelopment of the East Fremantle Sharks’ home ground recently entered the second stage of public consultation in what will be a drawn-out process involving not only residents but the WA government.

Mr Wearne explained the sale of any land within the precinct was in itself a complicated process.

“As the land is classified as a class A reserve, it is in fact owned by the state government,” he said. “Any decision to sell components of it would involve the motion passing through both houses of parliament and incur the time delays associated with this.”

Even after this process has been completed, the potential for local council revenue will depend on the depth of the government’s pockets, as the potential will still exist for the government to lay claim to the money raised by the sale.