Published on Friday, 3 April 2026 at 11:30:00 AM
East Fremantle Council has approved an interim variation to a clause in its licence agreement with the East Fremantle Football Club (the Club), allowing temporary fencing – under certain conditions – at the East Fremantle Community Park for the 2026 season.
Temporary perimeter fencing will be allowed between closely scheduled WAFL and WAFLW home fixtures, or within defined blocks of time.
Other conditions include:
- Public access must be maintained on non-match days (including designated openings or gates), and fencing must be limited to non-trafficable areas outside match day operations.
- Temporary fencing must be removed at the end of each approved block period.
- All costs associated with procurement/hire, installation, removal and storage of fencing remain the responsibility of the Club.
- Approval of temporary fencing does not constitute approval to charge entry fees beyond what Council separately approves.
The decision, made at a Special Council Meeting on 2 April 2026, follows confirmation from the sport’s governing body (WA Football) to the Club that it would not grant a fence exemption, as it has done in previous seasons.
WA Football has advised that perimeter control is mandatory for all sanctioned fixtures, despite the park’s long-established unfenced, open-access operating model.
It has also directed that temporary perimeter fencing must be erected for all WAFL and WAFLW fixtures until a permanent, compliant solution is delivered.
Town of East Fremantle Mayor Tony Natale said the interim variation provided operational flexibility, pending community consultation on any permanent solution.
“By allowing temporary perimeter fencing to stay up between closely scheduled fixtures, or within defined blocks of time, we can avoid logistical inefficiencies for the 2026 WAFL season,” he said.
Maintaining public access on non-match days was essential, he added.
The interim arrangement does not seek approval for permanent fencing, capital works, or pre-empt the upcoming community consultation, or any decision making on a permanent fence.
What to expect as first block of temporary fencing is installed
For the fixtures being played over the weekend of 10 to 12 April:
- Temporary white picket / show panel fencing is being installed on 10 April, with removal scheduled for Monday morning 13 April.
- During match operations, patron entry will be managed through a small number of controlled access points including at the north‑west entrance (near the breezeway undercroft), from Allen Street, and from the Moss Street/Marmion Street side of the park.
- The controlled access points are for crowd management and WA Football operational requirements only.
- Outside of match times, sections of the fencing along Allen Street will be opened to maintain public access.
Additional information/FAQs
Why was temporary fencing approved?
WA Football has confirmed that perimeter control is mandatory for all WAFL and WAFLW fixtures in the 2026 season and that no exemption will be granted.
Without an interim decision, the East Fremantle Football Club (Club) would not be able to meet those requirements, which may have resulted in WAFL and WAFLW matches being cancelled or moved away from East Fremantle this season.
With the 2026 season about to commence, a Special Council Meeting was held on 2 April to consider whether, and how the Town, may allow an interim response to WA Football’s requirement.
Is this a permanent fence or a temporary fence?
No, this is a temporary fence. Public access must be maintained on non-match days (including designated openings or gates), and fencing must be limited to non-trafficable areas outside match day operations. Temporary fencing will be allowed between closely scheduled WAFL and WAFLW home fixtures, or within defined blocks of time and must be removed at the end of each approved block period.
What type of temporary fencing will be installed?
The preferred interim fencing solution proposed by the Club is a picket style perimeter treatment, comparable in scale and configuration to the permanent picket fence option previously proposed by the Club. WA Football has expressly advised that temporary fencing must be of at least the same dimensions/configuration as the permanent picket fence option to satisfy compliance requirements.
How do we access other East Fremantle Community Park facilities during game days?
Match day operations, and access to other facilities at the East Fremantle Community Park, will be managed by the Club and Belgravia Leisure.
Why couldn’t Council wait until after the community consultation on a permanent fence to make a decision about a temporary fence?
The Football Licence between the Club and the Town was agreed to before the WA Football fencing requirement was communicated to the Club. It only allowed for a maximum of two fenced games each season. An exemption was previously granted.
In addition, WA Football’s position was communicated late in the planning cycle for the 2026 season, without allowance for transitional or interim exemption arrangements.
This has constrained the ability of the Town, the Club and the community to consider options in a staged and orderly way. It also required Council to consider the interim operational decisions agreed to on 2 April, ahead of the consultation process.
This decision does not approve permanent fencing and does not pre‑empt the outcome of community consultation.
When can the community have a say on a permanent fence?
In March 2026, Council resolved to support community consultation on a potential permanent perimeter control solution at the East Fremantle Community Park.
The decision recognised:
- the significance of the precinct as an open access, community facility
- the externally imposed nature of WA Football’s requirements for perimeter control at the East Fremantle Community Park.
Community members will be invited to have their say on the Club's plan for a permanent fence from Wednesday 15 April until 4pm on Friday 8 May.
Does this decision mean entry fees will be charged?
No. Council has explicitly confirmed that approving temporary fencing does not approve expanded entry fees or ticketing rights. Any decision about entry fees would require separate Council approval.
Who will pay for the temporary fencing?
The Town is not funding the fencing. All costs associated with procurement/hire, installation, removal and storage of fencing remain the responsibility of the Club.
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