FAQs

The City is updating the Outdoor Events Policy to ensure it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly changing events environment. Since COVID-19, large-scale festivals and promoters have faced significant increases in staffing, logistics, artist fees, and compliance costs. Fremantle has also seen the loss of two cornerstone events—St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and the Falls Festival—due to venue constraints, rising costs, and industry uncertainty.
At the same time, event organisers have consistently highlighted the need for more flexible, timely, and supportive processes that reduce regulatory burden. The revised policy responds to this feedback while ensuring that residential amenity, local business interests, and public space protection remain central to event planning. The overarching goal is a balanced policy that enables a vibrant and diverse events calendar while managing impacts responsibly.  

The proposed policy introduces several substantial changes:

• Adjusted event allocations at key outdoor venues:

  • Fremantle Park increases from one to two Major or Large events per year.

  • Fremantle Oval increases to one Major and four Large events per year (previously a combined total of three).

  • Esplanade Reserve increases to one Major and four Large events per year (previously a combined total of three).

• New bronze-level venues: Bruce Lee Oval and Hilton Park are added as sites suitable for small and medium events.

• Removal of the annual Expression of Interest (EOI) process, which previously required detailed, fixed applications up to 12 months in advance.

• Streamlined approval processes designed to reduce administrative burden, increase responsiveness, and create a more supportive environment for event promoters.

These changes strengthen Fremantle’s ability to attract high-quality events, encourage diverse programming, and support the city’s visitor economy.

The City has robust event approval processes that require organisers to prepare noise, traffic, waste, parking, and community management plans. Increasing event allocations does not mean approving events without controls — it simply increases the number of events that may be considered each year. Every event is still assessed individually for impacts and appropriate conditions.

The EOI process was introduced during the height of the pandemic when event certainty was low, industry risk was high, and promoters needed more structured lead times. Since then, industry feedback has consistently shown that the EOI system is now overly rigid.
Promoters often cannot confirm artists, suppliers, or detailed site planning 12 months out due to the volatile nature of the national touring cycle and rapid cost fluctuations. As a result, the EOI process created barriers to securing events and made Fremantle less competitive.
Removing the formal EOI process will:

• Shorten approval timeframes.

• Allow rolling, flexible applications.

• Reduce administrative burden and upfront documentation requirements.

• Support promoters in responding quickly to touring opportunities.

The core event approval and compliance requirements remain in place, ensuring community protection while making Fremantle’s processes more aligned with contemporary industry needs.

The revised Outdoor Events Policy continues to prioritise the protection of residential amenity. Large and Major events remain strictly limited and controlled through venue categorisation (Gold, Silver, Bronze), annual caps, and detailed operational plans.
Under the revised policy, organisers must continue to:

• Notify nearby residents and businesses of key event information, including road closures, bump-in/bump-out times, event hours, and sound checks.

• Provide event-day contact numbers and accessible information on road closures.

• Conduct resident or business briefings where significant impacts are expected.

• Prepare and submit management plans covering noise, traffic, waste, emergency arrangements, risk, and site operations.
  The City will also continue to assess the frequency, timing, and suitability of events to prevent overuse of venues and ensure an appropriate balance between event activity and everyday public use.

Overall, the policy aims to maintain strong safeguards while allowing a more contemporary and flexible approach to event attraction.

The revised policy updates venue allocations to better reflect current demand and citywide capacity. Key changes include:

• Fremantle Park: Up to two Major or Large events per year (previously one).

• Fremantle Oval: Up to one Major and four Large events per year (previously three combined).

• Esplanade Reserve: Up to one Major and four Large events per year (previously three combined).

• South Beach, Port Beach, Walyalup Koort: No Major events; limited Large events.

• Bronze venues (including the newly added Bruce Lee Oval and Hilton Park): Not permitted to host Major or Large events.
  Venue categories continue to reflect proximity to residents, the sensitivity of the location, and potential impacts on public amenity. All outdoor venues remain eligible to host small and medium events.

Event applications are assessed on the basis of their scale and characteristics and are classified into defined categories. For more information on Large or Major impact events, please consult the revised Outdoor Events Policy.

Both locations have been identified as suitable for small and medium-scale community events due to their size, accessibility, and ability to support neighbourhood activation without the impacts associated with major festivals.

By introducing Bruce Lee Oval and Hilton Park as bronze-level venues, the policy expands opportunities for local groups, schools, and community organisations to deliver events in suburban areas. This eases pressure on central sites like Esplanade Reserve while supporting distributed, inclusive participation across the municipality.

Events are a key driver of Fremantle’s visitor economy, and the revised policy aims to strengthen that role. Increasing venue capacity and simplifying approvals makes Fremantle more competitive in attracting touring events, festivals, and cultural programming that bring foot traffic and overnight visitors into the city.
The policy requires organisers to engage with adjoining businesses, identify opportunities for participation where possible, and mitigate impacts such as access constraints or traffic changes.
By providing more flexible pathways for promoters, the City aims to attract a broader mix of events—supporting hospitality, retail, accommodation providers, and tourism operators while reinforcing Fremantle’s reputation as a cultural destination.

After the engagement period closes and the summary report is finalised, findings will be presented to Council during its March Ordinary Council Meeting.

Business owners are welcome to complete both.

• The Business Survey focuses on economic impacts and operational considerations.
• The Community Survey captures broader views about events, amenity, and public spaces.