While I know it has been a controversial change I am very pleased Planning Scheme Amendment 49 was approved by Planning Minister John Day last Friday. As it happened I had lunch at a Property Council sponsored Directions 2031 update that day and sat with Minister Day and he signalled out Fremantle for high praise on a number of issues for its leadership in planning to the whole audience.

For those of you living in a hole the past year or two the planning scheme amendments cover twelve key sites in the less attractive parts of city central area of the CBD, focused around Queen Street between the Fremantle Railway Station and Kings Square. These sites were identified by the City of Fremantle as capable of supporting redevelopment that would make a significant contribution to revitalising Fremantle.

I think this could herald a new era for the Fremantle CBD that…