Published on Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 8:37:14 AM
In the election held on Saturday 16 October 2021, three new Councillors were elected. The Town’s leadership remains constant as Mayor Jim O’Neill was re-elected unopposed, with Cr Tony Natale voted into the position of Deputy Mayor for the term of 2021-2023.
Ward Results
In the Plympton Ward, former Deputy Mayor Cr Jenny Harrington was replaced by Mark Wilson.
The Woodside Ward will see the return of Andrew White to Council, who formerly served from 2015 to 2019. Mr White replaces Tony Watkins in that Ward, meanwhile in Preston Point Ward, the Town welcomes newcomer Laura Mascaro, and Cr Andrew McPhail was re-elected unopposed in the Richmond Ward.
Mayor O’Neill welcomed the newly elected members to Council and paid tribute to Ms Harrington and her many achievements both as Councillor and Deputy Mayor.
"Jenny was, and is, passionate about the Town and contributed immensely to the East Fremantle Festival in George Street, as well as public art including chairing the Public Art Panel. This committee focussed not only on the type of art but ensured its relevance to the site and encouraged local artists. Her achievements, commitment and love of the Plympton Ward were immeasurable. Jenny, together with Councillor Collinson, led the Council in negotiating the reduction of the impact of the proposed Royal George development," he said.
Further, Mayor O'Neill paid tribute to Tony Watkins, who he said shared a passion for ‘East Freo’ and the Woodside Ward. "Tony loves Woodside and its gardens and was committed to ensuring Woodside protected this as an integral part of our heritage. Tony was never too busy for chat and added that personal and caring touch which has become a rare commodity in modern life. Both were huge contributors and leaders in promoting community consultation, the environment and sensible development. I thank them on behalf of the Town and wish them well", Mayor O'Neill said.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by friends and families of the candidates and by local member of Parliament, Lisa O’Malley MLA, who described the Town as “small, but mighty”, with a reputation for “taking on goliaths” and had delivered amazing results including the plan for the redevelopment of East Fremantle Oval. Herself a former Councillor from the City of Melville, she said: “in local government, we don’t always agree but we seek consensus. She congratulated the newly-elected and returned members, and recognised the attendance of the Freemen of the Town, Mr Ian Hancock and Dr David Nelson, OAM.
Following his swearing in for his third consecutive term as Mayor, Jim O’Neill expressed his pride in the Town, one that he says is led by a functional and positive Council where everyone gets along, works hard and does much to support the local community, with the support of CEO Gary Tuffin and the Town’s staff.
The following evening, at a Council meeting on Tuesday, 19 October 2021, after the election of the new Deputy Mayor, the composition of the Town’s committees was resolved as follows:
Town Planning Committee
• Mayor O’Neill
• Cr Natale
• Cr Mascaro
• Cr Collinson
• Cr White
• Cr Nardi
Audit Committee
• Mayor O’Neill
• Cr McPhail
• Cr White
• Cr Wilson
• Cr Donovan
• Cr Natale
Events Committee
• Cr Mascaro
• Cr Donovan
• Cr Wilson
The committees listed above are internal Council committees, whereas the committees listed next also include members of the public (full details are available at our website). The Councillors appointed to those committees are as follows:
Public Art Panel
• Mayor O’Neill
• Cr Mascaro
Community Assistance Grants Advisory Group
• Cr Donovan
• Cr McPhail
• Cr Wilson
Climate Action Reference Group
• Cr Natale
• Cr Collinson
• Cr Nardi
Behaviour Complaint Committee
• Mayor O'Neill
• Cr Donovan
• Cr Nardi
The composition of the Community Design Advisory Committee, whose terms of reference were updated at the meeting on 19 October, has been held over for discussion and consideration in the November Council cycle.
WALGA South Metropolitan Zone Committee
Cr Mascaro, Cr Donovan and Cr Collinson were appointed Council’s representatives to the Committee, with Cr Natale appointed as the deputy.
Glyde-In Community Group
Cr Collinson was appointed as Council’s representative, with Cr Wilson appointed as the deputy.
Cr White was appointed as Council’s representative to the Resource Recovery Group.
Cr Collinson and Cr Nardi were appointed as Council’s representatives on the Development Assessment
Panel (DAP) with Cr Mascaro and Cr White appointed as the alternate members.
Cr Natale was appointed as Council’s representative on the South West Corridor Development and Employment Foundation & South West Group Environmental Forum, with Cr Nardi appointed as the deputy.
Cr Mascaro was appointed as Council’s representative on the Fremantle Ports Inner Harbour Liaison Group with Cr McPhail appointed as the deputy.
Town of East Fremantle Council
L-R standing Cr Dean Nardi, Cr Cliff Collinson, Deputy Mayor Cr Tony Natale, Cr Andrew White, Cr Andrew McPhail, Cr Mark Wilson, Cr Laura Mascaro
Seated front L-R CEO Gary Tuffin, Mayor Jim O'Neill, Cr Kerry Donovan
Town of East Fremantle Council and CEO with Member for Bicton, Lisa O'Malley MLA (centre)
Mayor O'Neill (centre) with Freemen of the Town Dr David Nelson, OAM (left) and Mr Ian Handcock (right)
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