Kids in a Lolly Shop

Exactly 50 years ago, in 1967, the Mayor of Fremantle Sir Frederick Samson, sent the above Christmas card to my father and mother.

Sir Frederick was proud of the new council administration building built then by the same builder (at the same time) who built the Port Authority building on Cliff Street.

The Port Authority celebrated the 50th anniversary of their building by bringing out a book. Fremantle Council celebrates by bringing out the bulldozers. How sustainable of them! The building above, with additions added later, will be demolished in a few months in order to build a $50 million new and unnecessary council headquarters. There is no report in the Local History Library providing any justification.

Like kids in a lolly shop, the mayor and councillors have eaten all the lollies, and now the actual shop is under threat.

Eight years of selling off assets and undertaking loss making projects will leave Fremantle without the substantial income producing property portfolio it once had. Ratepayers should care, because selling off so many assets, often at bargain or subsidised prices, will mean a much poorer town and much higher rates.

The unsustainablity of Fremantle Council's actions are in stark contrast to the Catholic University at the other end of town. Notre Dame have built up a property portfolio of 46 West End properties either rented or owned, and have made enough money to send millions of dollars out of Fremantle to fund new campuses. Like the Dockers, who scored a good deal for themselves and a bad one for ratepayers over their lease with Fremantle Council at Fremantle Oval, Notre Dame have out-negotiated Fremantle Council with their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), paying now only a voluntary contribution ($56,250 this year) for all of their rate free properties, as against the previous MOU where there was a higher and compulsory payment required.

The Fremantle Society commissioned a licensed practising valuer who said the council's financial assumptions were 'absurd.' The Fremantle Society commissioned a senior practising accountant who said the council was 'technically insolvent.'  The lolly shop is disappearing fast. 

Important Reminder - Candidates Meeting Tuesday 28th

Tuesday 28 February at Tannock Hall in Cliff Street (6.15 for 6.30pm) courtesy of Notre Dame University, the Fremantle Society is co hosting the Candidates Forum.

You will be able to ask questions, and they will be divided into categories eg economic and social, with Roe 8 having its own section (at the end).

The event has been advertised in the Herald, but the Chamber of Commerce made sure that the Fremantle Society logo was moved down underneath theirs, with writing so small we will loan you a magnifying glass if you need one.