Freo nightclubs face $100k street cleaning bill

by Melanie Stirling, 25 April 2011

A proposed rate hike could see Fremnatle nightclubs paying an extra $100,000 annually for street cleaning.

Fremantle Corporate Services Director Glen Dougall says the proposed differential rate was introduced to reflect the cost of cleaning and security surveillance needed in the Fremantle CBD late on weekends.

“The general rate being proposed by council for the 2011-12 budget is for an increase of five per cent,” Mr Dougall said.

Fremantle Corporate Services Director acknowledges that there has been much debate on the impact that the late night venues have on the Fremantle community.

“This debate will consider the position of the level nightclubs contribute to this, and the proportion that they may provide towards the management of these issues,” he said.

Fremantle council  has released figures that indicate an annual cost of $800,000 and an addition $180,000 for CCVTV monitoring is attributed to the nightclubs. The City proposes that the late night venues pay a proportion of this cost.

“Present estimates are that the Nightclub Differential Rate will gain an additional $100,000 in revenue. It costs the City over $850,000 per annum to clean the paths of CBD currently so this is 12 per cent of current costs,” Mr Dougall said.

The owners of the three Fremantle nightclubs that will be affected by the hike have declined to comment at this stage.

The Strategic and General Services committee resolved to announce the proposed differential rate at a City of Fremantle community meeting in early April 2011.

Other businesses in the Fremantle CBD that are contributing to these cleanup costs, could be hit with a rate hike in the near future.

“Other issues may be raised by the community and council we will be more than willing to consider the community feedback on this issue,” Mr Dougal said.

 The City of Fremantle intends to advertise the proposed rate hikes in early May and give the community a 21 day period to comment.

“This advertising will commence in early May and council is providing good notice of this issue so it may be properly debated before it considers its final decision with the adoption of the Budget in late June,” Mr Dougall said.