CHRIS THOMSON

EXCLUSIVE: Perth’s loss is set to be Fremantle’s gain with plans for a 45-metre-high ferris wheel being considered by the port city.

Gold Coast-based Australian Tourist Attractions wants to fill a void left when the Wheel of Perth’s 17-month spin ended in May 2010 due to land tenure questions raised by the state government’s Perth waterfront project.

The proposed ‘Wheel of Freo’ would be five metres shorter than its defunct Perth predecessor but contain the same number of capsules – 36. Its capacity would be 216 people, down from the Wheel of Perth’s 288.

Australian Tourist Attractions director Clint Johnson has earmarked a site on Fremantle’s Esplanade Reserve, across the train tracks from Little Creatures Brewery which recently released development plans of its own.

The wheel would be tall enough to offer views to Rottnest Island, Rockingham and even the Perth skyline 15 kilometres to the north.

The ambitious venture came about after negotiations to bring the wheel to this October’s Perth Royal Show.

A council document seen by oneperth.com.au reveals that Mr Johnson had hoped to move his circular structure to Hillarys Boat Harbour after the royal show’s end.

However, Royal Agricultural Society boss Martin Malony, a Fremantle local, suggested the port city had lots more to offer than the northern suburbs – and the Wheel of Freo star was born.

The wheel – formally known as SkyView – debuted at Sydney’s Easter Show in 2007. Since then, it has been doing the rounds at Darling Harbour.

Mr Johnson plans to have the wheel in place at Fremantle from mid-October, in time for the International Sailing Federation world championships scheduled there for December. The wheel would operate in Fremantle for six months before moving on.

Urban planners in historic, development-shy Fremantle have been glowing in their support of the wheel.

Even though the aesthetics of the ill-fated Wheel of Perth had polarised Western Australians, Fremantle’s planners decided against advertising the Wheel of Freo concept for public consultation.

The city stands to pocket $500 a week rent from the wheel, plus five per cent of any earnings above $100,000 a month.

Fremantle’s councillors will determine the wheel’s fortune when they meet on Wednesday night.