skip to Main Content

Freo Advocacy Group Closed For Business

FREO Now is yesterday. The small business advocacy group has collapsed after its board members decided to wind up the former Freo BID (business improvement district).

“We are looking to close Freo Now because we couldn’t find any funding,” Freo Now marketing guru Samantha Reece told StreetWise. Freo Now was set up in 2018 to replace the Freo BID group whose funding was pulled by the City of Fremantle.

“The board decided it was unfortunate but we can’t keep going without resources, we are all volunteering our time,” she said.

Ms Reece said the board has advised its 45 members and invited anyone to step into a board position: “Karl, Chad, Mark and I will be resigning from the board.”

Which leaves City Ward candidate Julie Morgan who says she was asked to resign before she nominated to run in the local government elections this Saturday.

Ms Reece said she could not confirm whether the board asked Ms Morgan to resign because it was, “confidential and sensitive”.

“Julie is running for council and our constitution says she can’t stay on the board if she is running for council.” Ms Morgan said this is incorrect because it only applied if she became a councillor.

StreetWise asked Ms Reece whether Ms Morgan had resigned? She said, “not officially, but we’re not fussed because Freo Now is winding up anyway”.

Ms Morgan said she has not received any correspondence about Freo Now closing.

Ms Reece said remaining funds, about $60,000, would be spent on advertising and social media: “We want to spend it on our members and keep it kicking along until Kings Square is completed.

StreetWise understands Ms Morgan was asked to resign from the board after she went to the media with concerns over anti-social behaviour in the West End.

Ms Morgan said City Ward businesses she had visited during the election campaign had lost confidence in Freo Now.

“Freo Now was set up to be a small business advocacy,” she said. “It is not doing that. Since that day when I was asked to resign I did not hear a peep from Freo Now, I haven’t seen them post anything and the businesses that know me have all not signed up for another year in July.”

Ms Morgan said the Freo Now board invited her to its meeting last week when it decided to close shop: “Seriously? They ask me to resign then invite me back?”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top