Gibson Park – Minutes 27-08-19

Minutes of Gibson Park Precinct Meeting Tuesday 27 August 2019

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Attendance: Ryan Abbott (City of Fremantle), Kahlia Belli (City of Fremantle), Val Cousins, Su Groome, Ron Kawalilak, Karl Paterson, Gerald Shepperson, June Shepperson, Cr Bryn Jones, Cr Ingrid Waltham

Apologies: Coralie Clark, Cr Jenny Archibald, Cr Doug Thompson

Meeting opened – 7.00 pm Convenor – Karl Paterson Chairperson – Ron Kawalilak Minutes – Ron Kawalilak

AGENDA ITEMS –

1. Renewal of the Play Space at Frank Gibson Park – The City has allocated $120,000 in the current financial year to update and renew the play space at Frank Gibson Park. Ryan Abbott, Manager of Parks and Landscapes with the City of Fremantle, outlined the status and the opportunities of this project. Unlike planning done in 2015/16, which was never funded by the City and was based on extensive landscaping and retaining the existing play equipment, the current project involves the play space only, replacement of some of the play equipment, adding more nature play to the play space, and extensive community consultation in the area.

Kahlia Belli, Community Engagement Officer with Fremantle, outlined the consultation process, which has included a letter box drop in the Precinct, a workshop with students from East Fremantle Primary, an on site drop in session with community members at the play space, and an online survey at MySay Freo. Final concept planning for the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2019, with project completion around April/May 2020.

Ideas raised at the meeting included shade sails or similar for the play space, more seating for parents and grandparents, access to drinking water, more climbing and nature play opportunities, and better integration of the play space area with the rest of the net ball-dominated park.

ACTION: As the deadline for input on the MySay Freo survey on this project was Friday, August 30th, an email was sent on Wednesday, April 28th to residents on the GPP email list inviting them to participate in the online survey.

1. Councillor Updates:
   High Street and Stirling Hwy/High Street Intersection Upgrade – Subsequent to the meeting, Main Roads issued the following project update on Wednesday, September 4th: ‘The process of demolishing 16 Main Roads-owned properties at the intersection of High Street and Stirling Highway in Fremantle is underway, following a site inspection by Main Roads representatives and WA Police earlier this morning. ‘The installation of security fencing is underway and security guards will monitor the site on an ongoing basis through to the completion of demolition work, which is expected to take approximately two weeks. Some of our fencing is situated at the edge of existing footpaths around the site. Pedestrians are advised to take care when walking in the area. ‘Later today, our demolition contractor will remove the floorboards and ceilings from the buildings. This work needs to be undertaken by hand before heavy machinery can demolish the structures. ‘Demolition of the Fremantle Environment Resource Network (FERN) building at the corner of Montreal Street and High Street is also in progress. This property has been vacant since 21 August. The work is being managed by the City of Fremantle. ‘Please be aware that the demolition work does not include the clearing of any mature trees on or around the site.’ FOGO Update – Fremantle will be rolling out a new three-bin (FOGO) system in September. The additional bin is for food and garden organics to be converted to clean compost. This bin is in addition to the bins for recycling (yellow top) and a new red top bin for general waste. Some multi-unit developments will not be included in this initial rollout. ACTION: In the same April 28th email mentioned above, Gibson Park residents were invited to a presentation on FOGO and waste minimisation at the White Gum Valley Precinct meeting on September 3rd.
2. Improving Community Awareness Of and Involvement With Gibson Park Precinct: ‘Reactivation’ of Gibson Park Precinct was discussed, with the aim of achieving greater awareness within GPP of Freo’s precinct system, having more residents coming out and having their say on issues important to them and, at the very least, having more local residents on the GPP email list so that they can receive notice of meeting and other events, as well as the minutes or meeting notes to keep them informed of developments. Kahlia outlined the various ways the City can help the Precincts with their activities, and noted that Hilton and Beaconsfield Precincts currently have reactivation projects underway. A meeting of Precinct Convenors is schedule for October 3rd, and this will be an opportunity for sharing ideas on this topic.

begin in early September. The Fremantle Environment Resource Network (FERN) site

The meeting was

told that demolition of Main Roads-owned properties on High Street is scheduled to

at the corner of Montreal and High Streets has been vacated, and design work on a

remodelled layout for the public golf course, and a new clubhouse, is underway.

4. Other Business – Cr Ingrid Waltham told the meeting that, after eight years representing East Ward on Fremantle Council, she would not be standing for re- election in the upcoming municipal elections. Ingrid, who has been an effective and hard working member of Council, was given an enthusiastic and warm vote of thanks from those at the meeting.

Su Groome, who has been co-convenor of White Gum Valley Precinct, and an active member of the community, told the meeting she would be standing for election in East Ward.

Meeting closed – 8:15 pm

Next Meeting – Tuesday, 29 October 2019 7:00 pm

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Check Freospace for details: www.freospace.com.au

Contact Person:
Karl Paterson 0401 844 784

karlmrandom@gmail.com

AGENDA_Gibson Park 27-08-19

AGENDA

Tuesday 27th August 2019 at 7.00pm
The Library, East Fremantle Primary School, Forrest Road

1.

2. 3.

4.

Renewal of the Play Space at Frank Gibson Park :-
(Ray Abbott, Manager Parks and Landscapes; Kahlia Pelli, Project Officer Community Engagement)

Councillor Updates :- ( including High Street Upgrade ):-

Improving Community Awareness of and Involvement with Gibson Park Precinct..

Other Business :-

Next GPP Meeting Date : 29th October 2019

Gibson Park – Minutes 30-04-19

Minutes of Gibson Park Precinct Meeting Tuesday 30 April 2019

Library, East Fremantle Primary School Attendance: Shane Chambers, Val Cousins, Ron Kawalilak, Karl Paterson, Gerald

Shepperson, June Shepperson, Cr Bryn Jones, Cr Ingrid Waltham

Apologies: Coralie Clark, Cr Jenny Archibald

Meeting opened – 7.05 pm Convenor – Karl Paterson Chairperson – Val Cousins Minutes – Ron Kawalilak

AGENDA ITEMS –

1. Approval of Agenda and Minutes – Attendees agreed with the agenda presented. It was noted that minutes of the meeting held 26 February 2019 were not circulated but were recorded in the GPP minute book. These meeting notes were then reviewed and accepted.
2. High Street and Stirling Hwy/High Street Intersection Upgrade – Shane told the meeting that he had appealed this decision to the EPA Appeals Convener, arguing that Main Roads was in error in treating the project as simply an upgraded intersection rather that one that falls under the recently revised State Planning Policy 5.4 – Road and rail transport noise, where, in addition to the planned noise walls, some area residents heavily affected by traffic noise would be entitled to additional noise mitigation measures (such as double glazing windows, acoustic ceiling insulation, etc.) for their homes. Shane reported that the Environment Minister had recently rejected this appeal, but the project may still be considered under SPP 5.4. According to the Main Roads website, construction works are anticipated to begin early-2020.
3. Playground Upgrade and Other Improvements to Frank Gibson Park – Background: After consultation with precinct members in 2015, the city’s parks and garden team produced a three-stage plan for proposed improvements/upgrades to

On 5 March

2019, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) found the proposal to upgrade a

section of High Street in Fremantle is environmentally acceptable, provided conditions to reduce noise levels, retain mature trees and minimise the impact on black cockatoo

habitat are met.

Gibson Park that was discussed at a precinct meeting in February 2016. Stage 1 involved consolidating various fences for a more uniform appearance; installing a footpath and associated plantings along the Forrest Street verge of the park; removing existing equipment from the swing pit; replacing mulch in existing play areas with clean white sand; and installing new adventure play equipment and associated plantings. Work to be carried out in Stage 2 and 3 included installation of new exercise equipment and associated plantings; planting of new shade trees; repairs to the High Street retaining wall; construction of formal car-parking along Wilkinson St verge and more. While further action on the project was delayed in 2016-17 because of changes within the city’s parks and garden team, and there was a budget item for this project in Fremantle’s 2017-18 draft budget, the proposed upgrade has not progressed. This issue gets raised frequently at precinct meetings and in early April the Precinct was informed that ‘Council’s current asset renewal program for playground upgrades at Gibson Park have the full replacement shown in 2023/24. This is based on the condition of playgrounds across the City whereby the oldest/poorest playgrounds are replaced first.’

The feeling of the meeting was that the above-mentioned improvements to the park and facilities were long overdue and not just a maintenance issue, and should be considered in the City’s next budget. Action: Cr Waltham agreed to take a copy of the 2016 plans provided by the Precinct to the Parks Manager for review and consideration.

1. Small Housing Initiative – There was discussion about the recent approval by the State Minister for Planning about the ‘Freo Alternative – Big Thinking about Small Housing’. This initiative is designed to provide greater housing choice, density and diversity within established suburbs if Fremantle. Within Gibson Park Precinct, it applies in the area bounded by Marmion Street to the north, Chudleigh Street to the west, High Street to the south, and Carrington Street to the east. Provisions of this initiative include: • • • • • • • •
2. Other Issues or topics briefly discussed included (i) holes in the lower grassed area of Gibson Parks; (ii) the review of Fremantle’s Strategic Community Plan (all public comments due by 26 May 2019 – See My Say Freo); (iii) status of the Westport review of Perth’s freight needs for the next 50 years and beyond (This is an assessment of the Inner Harbour at Fremantle, the Outer Harbour at Kwinana, required road and rail networks, and the potential for the Port of Bunbury to contribute to meeting Perth’s freight needs. A report to government is expected by the end of 2019.); and (iv) Val expressed concern that the signage approved by delegated authority for ‘Freo.Social’ (in Artillery Drill Hall) was not consistent with the heritage area.

Meeting closed – 8:05 pm

Only applies to lots greater than 600 square metres;

New dwelling(s) shall have a maximum floor area of 120 square metres;

Maximum of three dwellings on lots of 750 square metres or less;

Minimum of 30 square metres of outdoor living area per dwelling;

Developments to have higher than standard energy efficiency ratings;

Minimum 70 per cent of the entire development site to be open space, with some

variation allowed to 60 per cent open space;

At least one mature tree to be retained or planted on site; and

A maximum of one parking bay per dwelling.

Next Meeting – Tuesday, 25 June 2019 7:00 pm

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Check Freospace for details: www.freospace.com.au

Contact Person:
Karl Paterson 0401 844 784

karlmrandom@gmail.com

AGENDA_Gibson Park 30-04-19

AGENDA

Tuesday 30th April 2019 at 7.00pm
The Library, East Fremantle Primary School, Forrest Road

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

High Street Upgrade – Update since last GPP meeting :-

Playground Upgrade & Other Improvements to Frank Gibson Park :-

Holes in the grass on the lower green … danger of netball parking, trying to avoid holes and creating another track Coralie spoke to Council … 2 attempts to fill in :-

The Freo Alternative ( Local Planning Scheme Amendment No. 63 ) – allows infill small housing developments

in several parts of Fremantle, including GPP ? :- Update from Councillors

General Business :-

Next GPP Meeting Date : 25th June 2019

AGENDA_Gibson Park 26-02-19

AGENDA

Tuesday 26th February 2019 at 7.00pm
The Library, East Fremantle Primary School, Forrest Road

1. High Street Upgrade – any update since last GPP meeting :-
2. Playground Upgrade & Other Improvements to Frank Gibson Park :-
3. Netball 2019 Season – stick to one car track ( Coralie) :-
4. Status / Progress of Redevelopment of King’s Square :-
5. Status / Progress of Small Housing Initiative in Precinct :-
6. AGME – Annual Report – Council – 25th Feb 2019 Fremantle Town Hall :-
7. General Business :-
8. Next GPP Meeting Date : 30th April 2019

Minutes of Gibson Park Precinct Meeting

                              Tuesday 26 June 2018

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Attendance: Sondra Anderson, Shane Chambers, Coralie Clarke, Val Cousins, Ron Kawalilak, Karl Paterson, Gerald Shepperson, June Shepperson, Cr Doug Thompson, Cr Ingrid Waltham

Apologies: None

Meeting opened – 7.05 pm

Chairperson – Shane Chambers

Minutes – Ron Kawalilak

AGENDA ITEMS –

1. Proposed Demolition and Reconstruction of Gibson Park Netball Building – Sondra Anderson, President of the Fremantle Netball Association (FNA), provided the meeting with draft drawings and details of the proposed demotion of the netball club room and administration building in the park and the construction of new facilities on the same site. FNA were successful in obtaining a $1.8M grant from the State Government for this project and will be contributing up to $400,000 from association funds to support the project.

While the existing 60 year old facilities are structurally sound, they do not meet the contemporary needs of the FNA and its 5,000 members: the current facility lacks adequate function space for netball-related events and training, lacks storage for clubs and regional teams, and requires improved and better-located first aid treatment rooms. In addition, the proposed new facilities will have improved security features, employ anti-vandalism design and materials, a more neighborhood-friendly loudspeaker system, and will be available for other community uses.

Sondra explained that demolition work would commence mid-September 2018, at the close of the netball season, and construction would be completed by the end of April 2019 in time for the beginning of that netball season.

It was suggested that while an asbestos audit of the existing facilities indicates that there will not be an asbestos problem during demotion, placement of a dust logger on the site to monitor the demolition be wise and give a degree of comfort to residents. Sondra agreed to bring this to the attention of the project manager.

It was also suggested that the City should consider scheduling the promised upgrade of playground equipment and facilities at Gibson Park so they might be completed and available when the new netball facilities are completed. It was noted that the City is currently completing playground upgrades at a number of sites (including Davis Park, Fremantle Park, Sir Frederick Samson Park, Davies Reserve, the Leisure Centre, and Gilbert Fraser Oval) and, despite several requests, Gibson Park Precinct (GPP) has not been advised on when playground facilities at the park will be upgraded. Action: GPP requests information on when the City is to undertake playground replacement works in Gibson Park.

2. High Street Upgrade – Representatives of Main Roads will provide a summary of the consultation outcomes to date and an overview of the project process to a joint meeting of the White Gum Valley and Gibson Park Precincts on Tuesday, 3 July 2018 (7:30pm, White Gum Valley Primary School Library). The key issues raised by residents at the joint precincts meeting in March (land use and land take; impacts on the community from noise, air quality, etc.; pedestrian and cycle access; and project design) were common themes in the consultation process so far. All residents are welcome to attend the meeting on July 3^rd.

Detailed design of the project is still to get underway. Main Roads currently expects to have the project ready for construction by the end of 2019.

It was suggested that Fremantle Netball Association might want to formally get involved with this project so that parking issues at the park during netball season could be addressed and solved as part of the High Street upgrade. Sondra advised that the FNA would become involved.

3. Future of Two Morton Bay Fig Trees in Kings Square – Council is considering the future of two Morton Bay fig trees in Kings Square – one of them being the ‘Christmas Fig’ on the eastern side of St. Johns Church. Both trees, planted around the 1880s, have experienced a rapid decline in health in recent years (including increased deadwood, loss of up to 80 – 90% of foliage, etc.) and pose an increased public safety risk. The City has been monitoring and managing the health of the fig trees in Kings Square since 2008. With the upgrade of public spaces in Kings Square, Council needs to decide whether to retain and manage the two trees until the end of their life, or remove and replace them with two healthy mature trees.

In a broad discussion at the meeting, (1) there was an expression that the two trees were likely beyond saving, because of the damage done to their root systems by excavation and building of limestone walls in the 1980s, and replacement with two mature trees was the best option; (2) there was a need to ensure that the tree management mistakes of the 1980s were not repeated; and (3) the significance of the Christmas Fig, in particular, should be recognised with a plaque or some other appropriate means in the Kings Square redevelopment. Action: Ron to provide the precinct feedback through mysay.fremantle before submissions close on Thursday, 5 July 2018.

For more information on this issue, and to provide feedback to the City, visit My Say Freo http://mysay.fremantle.wa.gov.au by July 5^th.

4. Precincts Policy – The City has adopted a new precincts policy. Key points in the policy include: (1) 11 precinct groups covering the Fremantle local government area; (2) membership of all precinct groups is open and cost free; (3) meeting notes/minutes must be publically available within 14 working days of a precinct meeting being held; (4) precincts revert to ‘deactivated status’ if the group does not meet for 12 months; (5) precinct groups decide the length of terms and how many terms their convenor will be appointed for; and (6) there will be an informal meeting between precinct convenors and City Council held annually.

5. Dogs and Gibson Park – There was discussion about dogs and Gibson Park: an apparent increase in the number of residents exercising an increased number of dogs in the park; people failing to clean up after their dogs; and the aggressive behaviour of some big dogs towards smaller dogs. Some possible solutions canvassed included having an enclosure where small dogs could be exercised and separating the park (ie. top field and bottom field) into big dog and small dog areas. Action: Cr Waltham to follow up and report back to the Precinct.

Meeting closed – 8:10 pm

Next Regular GPP Meeting –        Tuesday, 28 August 2018

7:00 pm

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Check Freospace for details: www.freospace.com.au

Contact Person:

Karl Paterson           0401 844 784

karlmrandom@gmail.com

Minutes of Gibson Park Precinct Meeting

                              Tuesday 27 February 2018

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Attendance: Coralie Clarke, Val Cousins, Ron Kawalilak, Karl Paterson, Gerald Shepperson, June Shepperson, Lisa O’Malley MLA, Cr Jenny Archibald

Apologies: Gail & Greg Harper, Cr Ingrid Waltham

Meeting opened – 7.05 pm

Chairperson – Val Cousins

Minutes – Ron Kawalilak

AGENDA ITEMS –

1. Approval of Agenda and Minutes – Attendees agreed with the agenda presented. Minutes of the meeting held 5 December 2017 were approved.

2. Draft Precincts Policy – The City has prepared a new policy on Precinct Groups (replacing Precinct Guidelines dated August 2012) and this policy is open for public comment until 12 March 2018. The draft policy proposes that all groups have open and cost free membership where any interested community member is welcome to participate, and outlines the range of communication, financial and networking support available to precinct groups from the City. The role of the City’s Community Engagement Team in the operation and support of precinct groups is better defined than it was before. Action: Ron to provide the comment on, and support for, the draft policy through mysay.fremantle before submissions close on 12 March 2018.

3. High Street and Stirling Hwy/High Street Intersection Upgrades – While no announcements on resolving this long-running issue have been made so far this year, Lisa and Jenny told the meeting that an announcement from the State Government was likely within the next two to three weeks. Postscript: A new draft concept plan for upgrading High Street was released by the State Government on 6 March 2018. The draft concept (see map attached) includes a roundabout at the Stirling Highway intersection, a wide median to separate traffic and preserve a number of mature trees, and a single-lane service road for residents north of High Street. Traffic headed towards the port will be fed through the two-lane roundabout. Traffic coming from the port will avoid the roundabout, turning left via a dedicated slip lane to be cut through some properties on High and Holland Streets. The draft concept plan does not include reference to much needed E/W and N/S pedestrian and cyclist crossings of Stirling Highway and High Street.

4. Playground Upgrade and Other Improvements to Gibson Park – Val asked for an update on the stalled plans to upgrade the non-netball parts of Frank Gibson Park. Background: After consultation with precinct members in 2015, the city’s parks and garden team produced a three-stage plan for proposed improvements/upgrades to Gibson Park that was discussed at a precinct meeting in February 2016. Stage 1 involved consolidating various fences for a more uniform appearance; installing a footpath and associated plantings along the Forrest Street verge of the park; removing existing equipment from the swing pit; replacing mulch in existing play areas with clean white sand; and installing new adventure play equipment and associated plantings. Work to be carried out in Stage 2 and 3 included installation of new exercise equipment and associated plantings; planting of new shade trees; repairs to the High Street retaining wall; construction of formal car-parking along Wilkinson St verge and more. While further action on the project was delayed in 2016-17 because of changes within the city’s parks and garden team, and there was a budget item for this project in Fremantle’s 2017-18 draft budget, the proposed upgrade has not progressed. Action: Cr Archibald to look into the status of the proposed upgrade and report back to the Precinct.

5. Dogs and Gibson Park – Coralie told the meeting that some of the bins in the park used to dispose of dog poo bags had been broken off and removed and this was causing a problem with disposing of these bags in a proper matter. She also noted that an increasing number of people exercising their dogs in the park were not picking up after their dogs, or controlling them properly, and a recent incident involved a large, boisterous dog that broke the leg of a puppy, causing the leg to be amputated. Rangers were following up on this last incident. Action: Cr Archibald to look into the status of the broken and missing bins and report back to the Precinct.

6. Precinct Meeting Schedule – Precinct meetings are held the last Tuesday of every second month at 7pm in the library of East Fremantle Primary School. Meetings in 2018 are scheduled for February 28, April 24, June 26, August 28, October 30 and a pre-Christmas date to be determined.

7. NBN Community Forum – Lisa O’Malley said area residents wishing to learn more or ask questions about the National Broadband Network were invited to attend a forum at the Tradewinds Hotel, 6:30pm – 8pm, on Thursday, 15 March 2018. RSVP on 9316 0666 or bicton@mp.wa.gov.au. The NBN has recently been switched on in parts of Fremantle, East Fremantle and Palmyra.

Meeting closed – 8:00 pm

Next Meeting – Tuesday, 24 April 2018

7:00 pm

Library, East Fremantle Primary School

Check Freospace for details: www.freospace.com.au

Contact Person:

Karl Paterson           6161 5890

karlmrandom@gmail.com