❓ Mr Rundle questions the Minister for Sport and Recreation about issues with the East Fremantle Oval redevelopment, including lack of club facilities and council interference. The Minister expresses disappointment with the local government's handling of the project and assures that resolution is near.
AnsweredQoN 645Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EAST FREMANTLE OVAL — REDEVELOPMENT
645. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I refer to the $30 million of taxpayer funds spent on the
redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval, known as the home of the Sharks.
(1) Can the
minister explain his role in this situation in which we see the only West
Australian Football League club without a dedicated clubroom and memorabilia;
no perimeter fence around the oval, limiting the
club's ability to generate revenue from patrons attending matches;
seating reduced to only 475 for over 2 000 members, down from the previous
capacity of more than 2 000 seats; and the local council attempting to
control which sponsors the club can engage with and dictating that no gas is to
be used in its buildings?
(2) What is the minister doing to sort this woke mess out?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
645. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I refer to the $30 million of taxpayer funds spent on the
redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval, known as the home of the Sharks.
(1) Can the
minister explain his role in this situation in which we see the only West
Australian Football League club without a dedicated clubroom and memorabilia;
no perimeter fence around the oval, limiting the
club's ability to generate revenue from patrons attending matches;
seating reduced to only 475 for over 2 000 members, down from the previous
capacity of more than 2 000 seats; and the local council attempting to
control which sponsors the club can engage with and dictating that no gas is to
be used in its buildings?
(2) What is the minister doing to sort this woke mess out?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
AnswerView source ↗
It is a wonder the member did not appear here in orange
make-up!
(1)–(2) First of all, I am actually very proud of
this government's commitment to the East Fremantle redevelopment because a significant amount of money was invested, agitated for by the member
for Bicton, who strongly advocated for the
importance of a multi-use facility that included important community use. As
the member knows, the project was a council-led
project. But this government committed a significant amount of money to
it, and it has very clear expectations; that is, that East Fremantle, as a heritage
club and an important WAFL club, will have its needs addressed, and, indeed,
that the facility will provide important community use. It is actually very,
very well utilised by the broader East Fremantle community already.
It is very disappointing that the
local government has not got its act together. That is the reality: the local
government has not got its act together. It was given a magnificent opportunity
with huge funding from this government of over $25 million initially and an
additional top-up, if you like, to make sure the project could be delivered.
The facility itself is spectacular. It is remarkable, and it includes a whole
range of features and facilities that, in fact, the community will benefit
from. But this government has always had a view
that the East Fremantle Football Club is a key part of the facility, and we are
extremely disappointed with the Town of East Fremantle in the way that
it has handled this, quite frankly.
I
have to tell the member that the director general—because the member
was asking about my involvement— through our department, has been
having ongoing conversations with all three parties about resolving the matter, and it is actually close to being resolved;
I am hoping. But the local government needs to get its act together and realise
that to deliver the aspirations of the original commitment is to include the East Fremantle Football Club in terms of what the
club can deliver to their members and the football-loving public more
generally. That includes recognising that they have, from a heritage
perspective, important elements of their history that they of course want to
have on display, and so they should. It is the home of the Sharks. It will be
the home of the Sharks into the future, and we have to have a few sharks
hanging around, too, and some of the memorabilia and signage and whatever.
From my perspective and from the
government's perspective, we think it is simply a responsibility of the
local government to come to the table and understand the importance of the
addressing the East Fremantle Football Club's
needs. I think that financially it is going to be a positive outcome for them,
and that is important for them from a financial perspective. But of course, it
should have some signage, and of course there should not be a prevention of who
their sponsors can be or where they might be from. That is quite simply
ridiculous, and we have actually articulated that to the council. The director
general is working very closely with them, and I expect that we will get a good
resolution because I want to see the East Fremantle Sharks playing there next
season. I want to see increased attendance at games. I want to see the
community members embracing the fact that they have a beautiful facility right
on their doorstep and in that facility just happens to be a heritage football club that has a proud history and should
be able to display that proud history in their facility.
make-up!
(1)–(2) First of all, I am actually very proud of
this government's commitment to the East Fremantle redevelopment because a significant amount of money was invested, agitated for by the member
for Bicton, who strongly advocated for the
importance of a multi-use facility that included important community use. As
the member knows, the project was a council-led
project. But this government committed a significant amount of money to
it, and it has very clear expectations; that is, that East Fremantle, as a heritage
club and an important WAFL club, will have its needs addressed, and, indeed,
that the facility will provide important community use. It is actually very,
very well utilised by the broader East Fremantle community already.
It is very disappointing that the
local government has not got its act together. That is the reality: the local
government has not got its act together. It was given a magnificent opportunity
with huge funding from this government of over $25 million initially and an
additional top-up, if you like, to make sure the project could be delivered.
The facility itself is spectacular. It is remarkable, and it includes a whole
range of features and facilities that, in fact, the community will benefit
from. But this government has always had a view
that the East Fremantle Football Club is a key part of the facility, and we are
extremely disappointed with the Town of East Fremantle in the way that
it has handled this, quite frankly.
I
have to tell the member that the director general—because the member
was asking about my involvement— through our department, has been
having ongoing conversations with all three parties about resolving the matter, and it is actually close to being resolved;
I am hoping. But the local government needs to get its act together and realise
that to deliver the aspirations of the original commitment is to include the East Fremantle Football Club in terms of what the
club can deliver to their members and the football-loving public more
generally. That includes recognising that they have, from a heritage
perspective, important elements of their history that they of course want to
have on display, and so they should. It is the home of the Sharks. It will be
the home of the Sharks into the future, and we have to have a few sharks
hanging around, too, and some of the memorabilia and signage and whatever.
From my perspective and from the
government's perspective, we think it is simply a responsibility of the
local government to come to the table and understand the importance of the
addressing the East Fremantle Football Club's
needs. I think that financially it is going to be a positive outcome for them,
and that is important for them from a financial perspective. But of course, it
should have some signage, and of course there should not be a prevention of who
their sponsors can be or where they might be from. That is quite simply
ridiculous, and we have actually articulated that to the council. The director
general is working very closely with them, and I expect that we will get a good
resolution because I want to see the East Fremantle Sharks playing there next
season. I want to see increased attendance at games. I want to see the
community members embracing the fact that they have a beautiful facility right
on their doorstep and in that facility just happens to be a heritage football club that has a proud history and should
be able to display that proud history in their facility.
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