Land swap on cards in proposed changing of Fremantle and Mosman Park boundaries

A LAND swap is among the issues to be resolved by Mosman Park and Fremantle councils to overcome a yearlong push by rebellious North Fremantle residents to leave the port city and join the riverside western suburb.

“We’ve delegated it to our chief executives, who will try and get something done before Christmas,” Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt told Western Suburbs Weekly.

Last Wednesdaythe councils met and agreed to set the principles that had to be resolved to alter their border currently about 500m east of the McCabe Street-Stirling Highway intersection in North Fremantle.

Fremantle does not want rates revenue to fall in any change.

“That’s the key issue, and one of the things the chief executives are going to work through,” Dr Pettitt said.

Organising a meeting between the two authorities took until last week, and while some expected the location of the border to be discussed, the rates issue was of greatest concern.

Late last year, about 180 North Fremantle residents, living mostly around the west end of the Minim Cove development, petitioned the State Government to change their council border so they could join Mosman Park.

The petitioners claimed they did not get proper services and infrastructure from Fremantle and suggested moving the border about 300m west to Thompson Road, North Fremantle, and an option further west along Stirling Highway.

Fremantle counter-claimed with a bid for more of north side of east-west McCabe Street, so it could be developed and provide rates lost by handing over the rebels to Mosman Park.

However, in both mid-year and October talks with the petitioners, local government minsters said the councils had to agree before any change could be considered.

After last week’s meeting Mosman Park Mayor Ron Norris said it was a “good conversation” with Fremantle, but his council thought the petitioners’ view on a new boundary should determine the new discussions.

“But Fremantle thought it was important to balance lost rates revenue with a land swap on McCabe Street,” Mr Norris said.

“Our officers will now look at all the issues, and will determine what the next step will be.”