FAQs

The Metropolitan Region Scheme, or MRS, is administered by State government and is a comprehensive plan for broadly organising land use in the Perth metropolitan area. It covers a vast area from Rockingham in the south to Yanchep in the north and Mundaring in the east. It divides this area into high-level zones and reserves, each with specific rules and purposes. These are outlined in maps and a written scheme to help manage development and protect important areas.

The MRS operates independently from Local Planning Schemes, serving as the foundation for local government reserve and zoning decisions; in addition to the MRS, the City of Fremantle has a Local Planning Scheme that overlays its own local zonings and reservations, where applicable, over the MRS zones and reservations.

The City of Fremantle is in the process of drafting a formal request to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) asking for an amendment to the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS). Specifically, the request proposes a portion of the Parks and Recreation reserve, which includes the site of the Italian Club Fremantle and car parking south of this on Marine Terrace, be re-zoned to the Central City zone under the MRS.

If this request is supported the City would additionally need to amend its Local Planning Scheme No. 4 (LPS4) to allow for development and new uses on the site.

Specifically, the City proposes requesting the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) consider redesignating the following lots under the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) from the Parks and Recreation reservation to the Central City zone:

• Lot 1931 on Deposited Plan 212184, 65 Marine Terrace, Fremantle (the Italian Club Fremantle leasehold),
• Two portions of Lot 2039 on Deposited Plan 216961 to the south of Lot 1931 (City of Fremantle Car Parks 21 and 21A).

While the land subject to the amendment request is currently designated as a Parks and Recreation reserve under the MRS, it is currently used for car parking and Italian Club Fremantle's premises, which are valid uses of reserve land.

The subject site is owned by the State Government, specifically the Department of Lands, which sits within the broader Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.  It is subject to a management order that places it in the care, control and management of the City of Fremantle. Lot 1931, 65 Marine Terrace has been leased to the Italian Club Fremantle Incorporated since 1974.

If the request to modify the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) is accepted by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC), and if a Local Scheme Planning amendment is also required, these processes can each take upwards of one year to complete and would happen one after the other. Subsequent development on the site would involve submitting development applications and construction, which can be influenced by various factors including governance, funding, economic conditions etc.

In recent years, the City of Fremantle has established its intent in strategic documents, including Freo 2029: Transformational Moves, the Fremantle Esplanade Masterplan, Draft Local Planning Strategy etc., to extend Norfolk Street through to Fishing Boat Harbour. This would require reconfiguration of car parking in this area and a new road from Marine Terrace over the freight railway line to Mews Road, creating a seamless link between the Fremantle City Centre and Fishing Boat Harbour.

The City's 2024-2034 Strategic Community Plan's "Liveable City" key focus area speaks to the community's desire to see Fremantle as a liveable city that is vibrant, socially connected, and desirable. This key focus area is also relevant to the work we are progressing here.

Given the work involved in completing the Norfolk Street extension, and the City’s overarching objective to strategically link the city centre to Fishing Boat Harbour, this project presents an opportunity to further revitalise the area. Development on site currently consists of an aging building housing the Italian Club Fremantle and associated car parking. Appropriately scaled development that frames the road extension would help define the space and improve the strategic positioning of a prime city centre location adjacent to the waterfront.

It also aligns with the City Plan work currently underway. The City Plan aims to strategically and spatially plan for Fremantle city centre’s growth and evolution in the forthcoming decades. The insights derived from the City Plan work will shape future projects, precinct planning, policies related to housing, sustainability, transport, parking, built form, urban design, and other planning controls instrumental in supporting the centre’s future.

Linking the city centre to Fishing Boat Harbour and increasing the resident population are central elements underpinning the City Plan. Later this year, the City will seek public input on the City Plan, further engaging the community in shaping Fremantle's future. For now, this project will help set up the framework for a better city centre.

The purpose of this engagement is to talk to the community, including surrounding landowners and interested groups, about the possibility of asking the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to amend the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS), as it applies to the subject site, to eventually allow for development adjacent to an extended Norfolk Street.

The Norfolk Street extension document illustrates potential future development scenarios, which are conceptual and are provided for engagement purposes only. It is important to clarify that these plans serve solely as a visual representation for community comment and do not depict any final development of the area.

Community members are encouraged to share feedback on the proposed zoning change, which would impact the future use and amenity of this area. Here are some areas where your input could make a difference:

• Contribute feedback on the proposal.
• Contribute feedback on the potential mix of land uses and future activities on the subject site.
• Provide statements of support for, or against, the proposal.
• Share stories, history, and experiences in the area. 
• Suggest additional stakeholders or partners for the City to engage with.

You can provide your feedback through the survey on our MySay page for this project. Alternatively, a hard copy of the survey can be sent to you or picked up upon request.

At this stage, there are no specific plans for the appearance or use of any new development on the subject site. This project is primarily focused on a request to rezone the land in the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) and does not propose specific development or land use. However, potential development scenarios are provided to offer a preliminary idea of what could happen in the future.

The potential development scenarios serve as a communication tool, offering preliminary concepts for possible land uses and built forms over the subject site. It provides the community and other stakeholders with an idea of the project's future intent and serves as a basis for feedback. This feedback is valuable, especially for submitting a request to the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) to amend the MRS, as it helps to address community concerns and refine the proposal accordingly.

Amending the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) from the Parks and Recreation reserve to the Central City zone offers several opportunities, including:

• Enhancing connectivity between the city and the ocean by extending Norfolk Street to Mews Road.
• Transforming existing car parking into additional recreational areas and public open spaces adjacent to Esplanade Reserve.
• Implementing a transformative and city-defining initiative in a key Western Australian tourism and recreation hub.
• Generating employment opportunities during both the project delivery phase and long-term operational phase through the inclusion of additional commercial ventures.
• Stimulating development in the city centre, by facilitating the provision of new housing and increased population diversity, thereby contributing to the permanent population of Fremantle City Centre and supporting local businesses.
• Providing an opportunity to revitalise the Italian Club, ensuring its sustained viability by introducing diversified uses and offerings that strengthen its connections to the community.