CockburnCoast - Western Australian Planning Commission

CockburnCoast
this would be the appropriate body to coordinate and facilitate
development. If such a body is not established, the role could be
undertaken by WAPC/DP, Department of Works or LandCorp,
possibly in the form of a joint venture with the private sector.
2.5.1.2 Heritage
An interim listing of the South Fremantle Power Station on the State
Register of Heritage Places has lapsed in recent years. It is
considered that formal listing of the Power Station on the Register
may be appropriate to secure the heritage values of the place into
the future. To this end, any person or organisation may nominate a
place for entry on the Register of Heritage Places, for consideration
by the Heritage Council.
Should a listing be put in place, any proposed alterations, additions
or new development would require approval from the Heritage
Council, and would need to be in harmony with the place's cultural
heritage value.
Irrespective of the heritage listing, the South Fremantle Power
Station building is a significant component of the district structure
plan, owing to its physical dominance and uniqueness. Retention of
the power station is therefore of critical importance. As such, a suite
of heritage principles identified through the structure planning
process, in conjunction with a heritage architect, to ensure that the
heritage values of the site are retained and the significance of the
place interpreted appropriately in the evolution of the building and
its curtilage from their current state:
1. Retention of the existing facades and windows of the
original (current) building structure – it may be possible to
modify retained steel window frames.
2. Retention of the link between the building and the
foreshore, lagoon and ocean.
3. Retention of the relationship and curtilage between the
power station and existing coal storage area and open
area to the north-east of the building (partly enclosed by
the control room wing).
4. Retention of the remaining original structure and expose
this where possible.
5. Develop a large internal central space in any
redevelopment (up to the current roof level) to interpret the
internal size and scale of the original building. This would
also provide the necessary light and ventilation to internal
areas. It is recommended that this space extend to an
existing external wall.
6. Retain and expose where possible the vertical wall
separating the boiler hall from the turbine hall – this should
form part of the large internal central space in any
redevelopment.
7. New development should be constructed of new material
that is contemporary and not identical, but complementary
to the rendered façade of the original building. The
additional elements should continue the planar cubic form
of the existing building and not extend beyond the vertical
plane of the façade below it.
8. Climate control should be designed on the inside of
existing or new window openings and not protrude outside
the plane of the new façade. It is recommended that an
indoor-outdoor zone around the inside perimeter of the
existing building be developed to provide sheltered
outdoor space and a zone of climate control. External
projections, screens and other structures beyond the
plane of the external surface of the building are not
recommended.
9. There is a possibility to add additional space to the top of
the building and the opportunity to interpret the four
original steel smoke stacks should be encouraged. New
towers should be four in number with massing that is
similar to the original towers and no higher than the
original towers (approximately 20 metres above the roof
slab), should this concept be explored further.
10. Use of the large roof area and top of the perimeter wall to
install solar PC collectors and wind turbines to produce
renewable energy for the building and electrical grid is
strongly recommended, as it interprets and continues the
original purpose and use of the power station.
11. It is recommended that the roof be developed with a sod
topping and grass with a stormwater collection system to
filter and recycle possible salt and pollution-laden rain and
recycling this for use in the building (toilet/secondary
water supply). The grass area can also be used as a
rooftop common recreation space for occupants and
visitors.
2.5.1.3 Land use mix and regeneration principles
The sheer scale of the power station building presents difficulties in
terms of potential uses and tenure. A comprehensive planning and
feasibility assessment will be required to be undertaken for the site
to provide an appropriate use or mix of uses and form which will
reflect the importance and iconic nature of the building. Although
inappropriate to presume the outcomes of this assessment, public
benefit and proper planning should be applied in establishing the
framework and parameters of such an assessment.
Preliminary investigations undertaken as a part of the structure plan
have shown the area is too large for any one particular use, and
suggests that the development capacity could provide for a mixture
of the following uses:
• A range of community uses;
• A mix of residential and commercial uses, along with a
boutique hotel or short-stay apartment component; and
• Cafés, restaurants and bar, tourist and festival retail and a
small element of convenience retail on the ground floor
and a mezzanine level of the main building.
16 district structure plan