FAQs

The Place Plan is the overall vision based on a comprehensive analysis of the plans and strategies for a Precinct. Place plans have actions that can be updated over time and adjusted according to community requirements.

It coordinates public realm upgrades, marketing initiatives, and economic and Community development projects. 

A place plan celebrates and enhances what we love about a place and helps the City and Community collectively understand the priorities. 

The City of Fremantle has developed a place plan for South Beach to achieve the following: 

• Understand Community Aspirations: We worked with the community to listen, capture, and analyse the values and aspirations for South Beach. Together, we identified the unique local character for the area, and how we can enhance and protect certain aspects. 
• A Framework for Enhancements: We worked with the community to develop a framework for future infrastructure and amenities so they seamlessly align to the agreed look, feel, aspirations, and values of the City and Community. 

A Master plan may or may not be one of the actions of a place plan. A master plan is a static plan focusing on redesign, which is not our intent. 

The aim is that future additions at the South Beach Precinct will have a coordinated look and feel by referencing the Place Plan.

The South Beach Place Plan is a living document and provides a framework for new works. The City will continue to check in with the Community when we are commencing significant upgrades and provide updates on actions undertaken. 

Yes, actions and activities over time may need to be added or amended and these changes would require community support and Council approval.

• The South Beach Place Plans started with analysis and listening to the Community's values and aspirations for the Precinct, which commenced on 30 October 2021 with a successful Public Drop-in Session and a My Say Freo Survey.
• Then a Reference Group was selected from applications submitted and chosen to reflect a cross-section of the South Beach community.
• We undertook interactive workshops to resolve key challenges and to draft a plan with actions.
• We tested actions with internal and external stakeholders who have technical expertise
• We talked to people with lived experience to ensure that the Precinct is inclusive and accessible.
• Along the way we tested each stage with the Reference Group to get feedback. 
• Actions were developed and workshopped over the three stages of engagement to inform the Draft South Beach Place Plan.
  
  Note: All actions are shown spatially on a plan to ensure they align with the Sense of Place Statement and the Place Principles. Actions have also been costed as potential projects over the next ten years.
   

• The Draft South Beach Place Plan has now been endorsed by the Council for community comment.
• As part of this stage, we invite participants and the Community to provide feedback, questions, and support.

• A process of extensive stakeholder engagement has developed the Place Plan. This closing stage provides for final comments, queries and support on the indicative plan, actions, and activities p43-51. 
• The City will assess relevant comments and integrate them into the final document. This stage is not about redesigning or changing the collaborative work done but is about closing the loop with the Community. 
• Please note the City will report and check in annually regarding the South Beach Place Plan with Precinct Groups and interest community members to allow for opportunities to review the plan, actions and activities.

• Once final comments from the Community have been considered and the Council approves the project, the Place Plan will become a framework for prioritising future works. 
• As funding is sourced, the City will engage with the Community, especially on the more significant projects within the Place Plan, to ensure an ongoing collaborative relationship.
• The City will update the Place Plan each year to keep everyone informed when significant works occur and actions are completed

The old changing rooms and toilets at South Beach were well past their prime and becoming unsafe, and we know our temporary facilities could be better, so it's essential to replace them with new facilities.

No, the New Facilities (Toilets and Changerooms, including Changing Places Facilities) building has been approved by the CEO in January 2023.The New Facilities are located south of the café and north of the Norfolk Island Pine Tree. The building is a narrow footprint to not encroach into the Parkland.

The location is derived through internal and external engagement and was generally agreed upon in the last workshop by the reference group and further workshopped by the South Beach Kongalwaardarn CEO Working Group:

• The need for a seamless relationship to the cafe, playground, basketball court and car parking,
• People with disabilities need to move from the ACROD bays to the beach wheelchair, new facilities, cafe and to the main beach entrance (where beach matting is indicatively proposed),
• Not impacting the existing trees, and
• Projected climate change and rising sea level.

The new facilities will include new male and female changing rooms and toilets, two universal access/family rooms, storage for beach wheelchairs and a new Changing Places facility.

The new facilities consist of gendered and gender-neutral spaces whilst accommodating universal Access. The breezeway concept (a shared open corridor) will allow for greater passive security from within the facility, from the café, and the surrounding park. A single-entry point also reduces the requirement for multiple lockable doors.

Changing Places are secure and private facilities for people with disability who need extra space and assistance to use the bathroom. Changing Places are secure and private facilities for people with disability who need extra space and assistance to use the bathroom.

The Changing Places facility has been included in the project through the support of a $150,000 state government grant. 

We've also heard the Community's desire for facilities at the South Beach dog beach, and we will consider this as part of the long-term actions outlined in the Place Plan.

The schematic design for the South Beach New Facilities (Toilets and Changerooms, including Changing Places Facilities) received in-principle approval from Fremantle Council in October 2022 and requested the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) establish a reference group consisting of elected members, staff and targeted stakeholders to inform the detailed design and ensure it meets the needs of users. The South Beach Kongalwaardarn CEO Working Group (Working Group) was established and worked to: 

• Finalise the layout design of the male and female change areas in the proposed South Beach Facilities Schematic Design, and 
• Investigate the location of the Changing Place Facility and the beach access wheelchair storage.

In the short term, the City has been advised to upgrade the flooring to make it safer for patrons. This work will be staged as part of constructing the new facilities. 

In the long term, there may be additional upgrades, or a new facility built, but this is part of the long-term plan and would involve additional community engagement. 

Since the engagement period, the City has negotiated to take over the carpark management from the Public Transport Authority (PTA). To ensure the appropriate use of the carpark, the City can now fine any vehicle staying past the new four-hour time limit, starting February 2023. The City hopes this measure will ensure more people can use the carpark and enjoy the beach.

The Place Plan engagement process highlighted the desire to create a welcoming carpark, and we will consider this on our long-term planning for the area.

The City is excited to announce the construction of the New Facilities consisting of contemporary toilets, changerooms, and Changing Places will commence in October 2023 and it is anticipated to take 6 months.

• The toilet amenities, including universal accessibility facilities and wheelchair storage, will be temporarily relocated as shown on the plan, 
• Unfortunately, providing temporary showers will not be viable, 
• Outdoor showers are available but subject to service interruptions, and  
• We will make every effort to ensure these services are available. 

Yes, the Place Plan and New Facilities will add to the welcoming feel that exists at South Beach already by integrating into the public realm the following:

• Drop off area for people with a disability,
• Wheelchair storage,
• Changing Place Facilities, 
• Gendered and gender-neutral spaces,
• Universal facilities,
• Accessible pathways,
• More seating with supportive arm rests and hardstand underfoot, and
• Beach matting beach access.