FAQs

Both the Department of Transport (DoT) and the City of Fremantle recognised a need to establish a blueprint to guide the future development of the harbours and their connection to the Fremantle city centre and the port. The preparation of a Fremantle Harbours Master Plan will provide this framework and underpin business cases for future capital works.

The draft Master Plan includes the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Challenger and Success Harbours. In addition, it considers the interface with the adjacent Esplanade Park, Bathers Beach, the rail line and Fremantle Port, as well as nearby residential and commercial development.

The final Master Plan will be a vision for development in the next 40 years.

The initial draft Master Plan, now available for community comment, identifies potential redevelopment opportunities, improved maritime infrastructure and more diverse land uses, whilst maintaining a true working boat harbour.

The plan seeks to deliver a more accessible and livelier waterfront that is better linked to the city centre and Fremantle Port at the same time as stimulating redevelopment.

Three big changes will make it easier and more appealing to access the waterfront from Fremantle’s city centre.  

• Two-way access will be introduced at Wardan Lane in the north of the harbour so that Mews Road can be utilised for events and activities without impacting access to the working boat harbour. 
• Norfolk Street will be extended directly into Mews Road at the southern end, opening a view corridor straight to the water and significantly improving wayfinding to this iconic destination.
• The Arundel Street entrance will be closed, reducing traffic along The Esplanade and limiting conflict points for cyclists and pedestrians.

The new waterfront will be more accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and alternative transport modes  with significant improvements and an opportunity to re-route the CAT bus right into the waterfront.

The draft Master Plan creates new land parcels that will be developed over the next 40 years that will bring people and life back to the water. 

By changing the road access points, Mews Road between Norfolk Street and Wardan Lane can be closed and utilised for events and activities. This space will be pedestrian first, reflecting cosmopolitan waterfront precincts around the world. 

New plazas and park lands will be developed both along the water and tucked in behind buildings for those days when the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ is a little bit chilling. New development will allow for accommodation in a mixed-use setting to bring people into the area night and day.

The draft Master Plan opens the door to direct linkages along Bathers Beach to the Port and along Norfolk Street and The Esplanade to the city centre through improved public spaces and pedestrian corridors, better visibility and views to the water and enhanced safety.

The final Fremantle Harbours Master Plan will be implemented by The Department of Transport, as manager of these facilities. The City of Fremantle will play an important role in its implementation, particularly in areas outside The Department of Transport's management. 

The final Master Plan will be used to guide the preparation of business cases to inform future capital works projects. 

Some projects and upgrades specified in the master plan may be funded by different parties depending on land ownership and management details.

It is the result of a collaboration between The Department of Transport, City of Fremantle and Department Planning, Lands and Heritage under the oversight of a steering committee between these parties. The draft document has also been informed by historic community and stakeholder engagement.