BMG has a successful history of operating common user marine facilities in Australia and purchased Rottnest Express earlier this year.

Fremantle Ports Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Sanderson said the BMG submission was an excellent fit with the uses identified for B Shed within the Fremantle Waterfront Masterplan’s Ferry Precinct.

“The Baileys Marine Group proposal envisages the creation of a lively hub housing ferry operators,” she said. “B Shed is ideally situated adjacent to the O’Connor Ferry Landing, and the aim is to see this area developed into a world-class ferry precinct.

“As well as servicing the Inner Harbour’s growing river and island ferry operations, this proposed development in B Shed, with its mix of tourism-related activities, would complement other existing or planned developments at the western end of Victoria Quay,” Kerry Sanderson said. “Leeuwin Ocean Adventure, which occupies space at the western end of B Shed, will continue under its long-term tenancy agreement and the scope to better integrate this activity with the other planned activities in B Shed will be further explored.

“We understand from the BMG submission that currently there are approximately 200,000 people annually using Victoria Quay as a departure point for ferry journeys. The current facilities are very basic and the new facilities will be a welcome and much-needed improvement that will benefit the large number of locals and tourists using the ferry services. The proposed ferry terminal will also be an attractive meeting point for those picking up or dropping off ferry passengers in the area.

“Sensitive restoration in compliance with B Shed’s heritage status would be part of the upgrading of the building and the opportunity for creating an interpretive centre has been recognised in the proposal. Fremantle Ports will now enter into detailed discussions with BMG to further develop the detail of the proposal and to see whether a long-term lease can be offered. This will include the preparation of a more detailed scope of the restoration works planned and this will be discussed with the Heritage Council of Western Australia and the City of Fremantle once prepared.

Proposals submitted in response to Fremantle Ports’ call for Expressions of Interest were thoroughly assessed against a number of criteria. The panel was chaired by Fremantle Ports’ Chairman, Mr Joe McKay and included a representative from Tourism WA.

“The Fremantle Motor Museum, which occupies B Shed on a short term lease, has been advised of the outcome,” Kerry Sanderson said.

“As we have consistently said, the Fremantle Motor Museum lease was always on a short-term basis and Fremantle Ports at no stage ever gave the Motor Museum any undertaking, either verbal or in writing, that a longer term lease would be provided or that alternative premises would be made available to them.

“It is disappointing that the Fremantle Motor Museum continues to argue otherwise when they have clearly acknowledged in writing that the lease was for a short term only. There have also been other elements of the performance of the Motor Museum under its lease which have been of concern,” Kerry Sanderson said.