FAQs

Each year the City of Fremantle has a rolling schedule to renew playground equipment where end of life equipment is replaced with a new, similar version or an upgraded design. The Projects & Place Team has received capital works funding in the 2024/25 budget to address ongoing irrigation and landscaping concerns, as well as renew the existing playground facilities and fencing at Parmelia Park to better serve its growing community and maintain the health and integrity of the trees and grassed areas.

Planned upgrades to Parmelia Park include:

• adding an accessible path through the park
• improving picnic areas, updating seating, new bike racks
• enhancing irrigation
• replacing struggling lawn areas with waterwise native plants to boost biodiversity
• creating a scenic walking path along the edges of the park
• redesigning and renewing the play area, with completion planned for June next year (2025)

There is also potential scope for the installation/renewal of other amenities such as water fountains, basketball court and new signage, subject to budgeting resources.

Please note, this park upgrade does not include changes surrounding security cameras, shelters, waterplay park elements, parking, lighting and dog-governance at this stage.

The City of Fremantle is committed to seeking community and stakeholder input to ensure the playground replacement meets the needs of the local community. City officers will be gathering community input from the MySay survey, park drop-in session, written and online submissions, as well as 1:1 meetings (if requested by members of the public).

Once the consultation period has closed, based on the community ideas and needs, as well as the budget, a playground concept design will be developed and finalised.

The City aims to complete the park works within the 2024/25 financial year, with installation of the new play area by June 2025.

There is a fixed budget allocation of $200,000 included in the 2024/25 financial year.

The budget must cover all works associated with the removal of the existing equipment, installation of new playground elements, temporary fencing, softfall sand cleaning, playground audit and any other minor park works identified in the consultation process such as footpaths, picnic settings/bench seats, a shelter etc.

The City has additional budget for irrigation renewal works at Parmelia Park to be completed during the 2024/25 financial year.

Each park is classified as either local, neighbourhood, district or regional based on the park’s size. The type of facilities provided in each park depends on its classification. For more information, you can read about Public Open Space Classifications in the City’s Public Open Space Strategy 2024 – 2034 by clicking here.

Requests for additional or new facilities are investigated and budgeted as capital projects. They are assessed in relation to the park’s classification, the Public Open Space Strategy and Asset Management Strategy. Requests are prioritised against maintenance and renewal requirements for existing facilities and budget availability. Requests for park upgrades can be sent to info@fremantle.wa.gov.au

Once community feedback has been collected from engagement period, the City will consider whether to maintain the current arrangement that has multiple sand pits with singular play elements OR consolidate the sand pits and focus the budget on one or two playground areas. 

CoF is a One Planet Council and a Gold Waterwise Council, we need to consider the amount of water that gets used with water play elements. While it can be recycled for re-use, this is costly due to the infrastructure required for pumps, filters and underground infrastructure to ensure the water is safe enough to be re-used. Waterplay infrastructure also adds additional ongoing maintenance, which is outside the scope of this project.

Due to the cost of rubber softfall and the maintenance cost for repairs and replacement, the City limits the use of rubber softfall. The use of rubber softfall is occasionally implemented when considering universal access to specific play elements. It’s inclusion at Parmelia Park is dependent on community feedback and budgeting requirements.

Unfortunately, not. When playground equipment is due for replacement, it cannot be sold. The City breaks down the components of the playground equipment for recycling.