By Simon Tubey
In the wake of the apparently accidental death of a 24-year-old Byford man at the old South Fremantle power station, questions are emerging about who is responsible for securing the run down site?
An eyewitness reported seeing the man climbing the outside of one of the window frames moments before he fell 15-metres to his death last Saturday.
As authorities investigate the man’s death, attentions are focused on the security and ownership of the heritage-listed power station.
While the City of Cockburn’s security service, ‘CoSafe’ patrols surrounding roads and is in charge of securing the City of Cockburn’s assets, the true responsibility for the power station’s security remains a grey area.
“All I know is our city’s administration will be talking with Synergy about what needs to happen down there and about what can be done,“ said Mayor Logan Howlett from the City of Cockburn.
Both Western Power and the City of Cockburn have told The Bounce News they believe different agencies are responsible for the site’s safety.
Unmarked security guards and contractors patrol the perimeter of the complex. New fence panels have replaced broken ones.
Since the man’s death, new levels of security are already in place where security guards and unmarked contractors appear to be permanently stationed on the site.
“While the fencing has been replaced, it’s cut again, sometimes within days of being replaced,” said Mayor Howlett.
Vandals have repeatedly destroyed the perimeter fences at the power station.
Mr Howlett says it may be another 10 or more years before the site is developed into a proposed shopping and residential development, leaving a question mark over the ownership of safety of the South Fremantle Power Station.
“We do know that Landcorp, Synergy and Western Power are working towards developing a business case for the future use of the power station,” he said.
Synergy and the Department of Finance and Treasury were approached for comment.