FREMANTLE is poised for a shake-up with newly elected mayor Brad Pettitt determined to bring business back to a tourist precinct.
FREMANTLE is poised for a shake-up with newly elected mayor Brad Pettitt determined to bring business back to a tourist precinct.
The 37-year-old Greens member, who officially ended Labor's stronghold on the port city at last weekend's council poll, Mr Pettitt made light of that achievement, saying it is "dangerous" for party politics to play a role in local government and that he will remain independent.
Endorsed by the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce, Mr Pettitt hopes to attract retail business back to Fremantle, while creating new jobs and developing diverse accommodation.
“Often the business community disengages from local government when they may find themselves complaining that they can't get things happening, but this time there was very broad-scale engagement with the election; it was such a strong feeling across the board that something's got to change otherwise Fremantle is going to die," Mr Pettitt told WA Business News.
“The council was very divided for the last four years, there's no doubt about that, and there was a real sense as a result of that, that the business sector in Fremantle was going backwards.
“Retail was leaving Fremantle; I mean the amount of floor space and the number of jobs had declined over the past decade. It was black and white, the indicators were really clear.
“But there seemed to be no strong direction from council how to address that, which is why I think the chamber said now is the time, if we don't get it right at this election, then it's going to be very hard to turn Freo around."
Mr Pettitt said the first issue on his agenda was developing the "ugly" east end of Fremantle, from Target to the old traffic bridge, where many older car yards exist.
He said he would investigate new developments that attract people to fill retail and office space and boost Fremantle's stagnating population.
“One of the first things I want to try to do is provide local government grants to get new businesses into those spaces, maybe help them fit-out the space, and attract the businesses with the Fremantle feel, like architects, fashion businesses, or IT," said Mr Pettitt, who was sworn in on October 19 by outgoing mayor Peter Tagliaferri.
