The concept of a tourist bus traversing some of Fremantle’s best and busiest hot spots has progressed, but some councillors are railing against the prospect of ratepayers footing a bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The City of Fremantle council greenlit Horizons West as its preferred provider for the bus service last week and will now seek State Government and private funding as a next step.
Horizons West claims it would operate seven days a week during high season from December 1 to April 30.
The locations it could visit include the Maritime Museum, Gage Roads, O’Connor landing in Victoria Quay, the Fremantle train station, South Terrace including the cappuccino strip, the Esplanade Park, Fremantle Markets, Fremantle Arts Centre and the Fishing Boat Harbour.
Concerns over who would foot the bill brought an end to CAT bus services in Fremantle last year.
Cr Jemima Williamson-Wong said she was against the City of Fremantle covering costs for a new tourist service if it was not also financially supported by the State or local businesses.
“My issue lies with the fact that it could be up to a $200,000 cost to the city,” she said at last week’s council meeting.
“I don’t necessarily think that’s a sound, community based decision.”
Investigations now shift to which of three funding models can actually make the concept a reality.
A “fully commercial” service would leave Horizons West to charge passengers and potentially take contributions from businesses along its route.
Subsidies from the council and State Government could mean cheaper tickets for passengers, while the most expensive option to Fremantle council would be a free tourist bus, with the city picking up the annual $200,000 tab.
An officer’s report also hinted at the possibility of a “State-wide” approach in partnership with Tourism WA, in a model that could link the port city to the wider metropolitan area.
Cr Ben Lawver said while he supported the bus he didn’t want the city to have to pay for it all.
He said there was a lack of information about the bus, including why it would stop at businesses also owned by Horizons West’s parent company, Kelsian Group.
The transport operator acquired the bus company for $47 million in 2022.
“It’s a for-profit company that’s going to be bringing people to tourist attractions but also for their own businesses,” Cr Lawver said.
“They’ll be dropping people off at Cook Cruises, which this company also owns.
“It calls out Gage Roads — I appreciate Gage Roads is an iconic restaurant — but if we are going to be stopping at Gage Roads, what was the process to reach that decision.”
Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said Fremantle was a “key tourist destination” and “gateway” for cruise passengers to WA.
“It should have a tourist bus that serves it properly,” she said.
“I guess that’s the pitch we’ll be going to Government with.”
The proposal comes months after the Freo CAT bus service closed in October last year — a free loop service for tourists and locals alike which was funded in a cost-share arrangement between the city and Public Transport Authority.
While there was public outrage and pleas to keep the CAT running, Cr Andrew Sullivan said improving overall public transport was a “separate conversation” to the need for a tourist bus.
“We need to get away from equating the issue of improving the public transport system and providing a CAT style (service),” he said.
The motion to proceed with Horizon West as a preferred provider was passed, with only Cr Doug Thompson voting against it.