❓ Mr. Abetz asks about the progress of restoration work on the warders' cottages in Fremantle and the government's efforts for state-owned heritage places. The Minister details restoration progress and accuses the opposition of opposing the project.
AnsweredQoN 435Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WARDERS' COTTAGES —
FREMANTLE — RESTORATION
435. Mr P. ABETZ to the Minister for
Heritage:
Could the minister please update the
house on the progress of restoration work on the warders' cottages in
Fremantle and what the Liberal–National government is doing for state-owned
heritage places?
FREMANTLE — RESTORATION
435. Mr P. ABETZ to the Minister for
Heritage:
Could the minister please update the
house on the progress of restoration work on the warders' cottages in
Fremantle and what the Liberal–National government is doing for state-owned
heritage places?
AnswerView source ↗
This is a very important issue.
First of all, this goes back to an election commitment that this government
made in 2013 that, if re-elected, we would establish this country's
first government-initiated heritage revolving fund.
Ms
S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : If the member for Fremantle had listened to what I said, it is.
The fund and program take disused or
underutilised government-owned heritage buildings—that is roughly
around one-third of the state Register of Heritage Places—and restore
them to a certain level, or de-risk them, so that they can either go out to
market for a long-term lease or, alternatively, be sold, but with a heritage
agreement that protects the heritage and conservation values of those
buildings. Our first project and an early one to kick it off is the
conservation and revitalisation of the warders' cottages in Fremantle.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I will get to that, too, member for Bassendean.
Since that project first went to tender in March 2015, we
have seen the restoration of some 2 000 square metres of limestone walls on
those heritage-listed warders' cottages; we have replaced much of the
roof sheeting, gutters and downpipes; we have overhauled all of the site
drainage; we have seen the rebuilding of the second‑storey verandas; we
have restored the awnings, doors and windows; and, very importantly, we have
now fire-separated the roof spaces. I had the opportunity to inspect the
building site last Friday, which was my most recent visit, and I was impressed
with not only the progress that has been made on restoring those buildings, but
also the quality of craftsmanship that has been going into that restoration.
Already they are presenting a far more appealing feature and facade in the
heart of Fremantle.
Under this government, the Perth CBD has certainly seen a heritage
renaissance. We saw that particularly with the opening of the old Treasury
buildings, Brookfield Place and multiple projects that I do not have time to
list.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
also want to see that extended to other parts of the state, particularly
Fremantle, which has languished behind in this area, particularly in the area
of heritage adaptive re-use. That is why the state government is leading by
example in restoring a significant state heritage-listed property that it owns
to a suitable level so that it can go on to have a new life.
Interestingly, the opposition opposes this policy and appears
to even oppose the restoration of the Fremantle warders' cottages. The
member for Fremantle has described this as a bad outcome for heritage and a bad
outcome for Fremantle.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Although she was perfectly happy to talk about the importance of doing
something, now that we are doing it she appears to think it is a bad outcome
for the electorate.
First of all, this goes back to an election commitment that this government
made in 2013 that, if re-elected, we would establish this country's
first government-initiated heritage revolving fund.
Ms
S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : If the member for Fremantle had listened to what I said, it is.
The fund and program take disused or
underutilised government-owned heritage buildings—that is roughly
around one-third of the state Register of Heritage Places—and restore
them to a certain level, or de-risk them, so that they can either go out to
market for a long-term lease or, alternatively, be sold, but with a heritage
agreement that protects the heritage and conservation values of those
buildings. Our first project and an early one to kick it off is the
conservation and revitalisation of the warders' cottages in Fremantle.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : I will get to that, too, member for Bassendean.
Since that project first went to tender in March 2015, we
have seen the restoration of some 2 000 square metres of limestone walls on
those heritage-listed warders' cottages; we have replaced much of the
roof sheeting, gutters and downpipes; we have overhauled all of the site
drainage; we have seen the rebuilding of the second‑storey verandas; we
have restored the awnings, doors and windows; and, very importantly, we have
now fire-separated the roof spaces. I had the opportunity to inspect the
building site last Friday, which was my most recent visit, and I was impressed
with not only the progress that has been made on restoring those buildings, but
also the quality of craftsmanship that has been going into that restoration.
Already they are presenting a far more appealing feature and facade in the
heart of Fremantle.
Under this government, the Perth CBD has certainly seen a heritage
renaissance. We saw that particularly with the opening of the old Treasury
buildings, Brookfield Place and multiple projects that I do not have time to
list.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
also want to see that extended to other parts of the state, particularly
Fremantle, which has languished behind in this area, particularly in the area
of heritage adaptive re-use. That is why the state government is leading by
example in restoring a significant state heritage-listed property that it owns
to a suitable level so that it can go on to have a new life.
Interestingly, the opposition opposes this policy and appears
to even oppose the restoration of the Fremantle warders' cottages. The
member for Fremantle has described this as a bad outcome for heritage and a bad
outcome for Fremantle.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Although she was perfectly happy to talk about the importance of doing
something, now that we are doing it she appears to think it is a bad outcome
for the electorate.
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