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.
Community consultation on a permanent fence
In March, 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.
WA Football’s position has been 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.
Consultation on a permanent fence solution is still being planned by the Town. Community members will be invited to have their say in coming weeks.
Additional information:
- The perimeter control requirement is being imposed by WA Football.
- 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.
- The Football Licence between the Club and the Town (which was agreed before the WA Football fencing requirement was communicated to the Club) allowed for a maximum of two fenced games each season.
- Match day operations are managed by the Club and Belgravia Leisure.
- The preferred interim fencing solution proposed 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 that permanent picket fence option to satisfy compliance requirements.
- The Town is not funding the fencing. The Club is seeking State government funding. Council is responsible for determining the licence and conditions.
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