{"id":632400,"date":"2026-04-26T17:14:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T17:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/632400\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T17:14:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T17:14:12","slug":"nedlands-baths-27-million-redevelopment-of-jojos-jetty-stalls-as-no-plans-lodged-three-years-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/632400\/","title":{"rendered":"Nedlands Baths: $27 million redevelopment of JoJo\u2019s jetty stalls as no plans lodged three years on"},"content":{"rendered":"

A $27 million redevelopment proposal for the Nedlands Baths site, once touted by the State Government as a major tourism drawcard, appears to have fallen through the cracks.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the State Government welcomed a multi-million-dollar proposal to redevelop JoJo\u2019s jetty at the historic Nedlands Baths site along the Swan River.<\/p>\n

Led by Singapore-founded property developer Sevens Group, the proposal included a two-storey boutique hotel to be built over the water, that would have included a function centre, restaurant, caf\u00e9, bar, public amenities and a protected marina.<\/p>\n

At the time, then tourism minister now Premier Roger Cook called it a project of \u201cstate significance\u201d that would become an \u201ciconic attraction for visitors from around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe development of tourism attractions such as this will help showcase Perth and Western Australia as a must-visit destination, as we prepare to welcome the return of visitors from around the world,\u201d Mr Cook said.<\/p>\n

Three years later and no update is anywhere in sight.<\/p>\n

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, which leases and manage the site, claims it has not received a development application following the 2022 announcement.<\/p>\n

\"JoJo'sCamera IconJoJo’s Cafe at Nedlands baths. Credit: Facebook\/Jojo’s Cafe\/RegionalHUB<\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision to redevelop the site is a consideration of the lessee, Sevens Group,\u201d a DBCA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny redevelopment would require assessment and approval under the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Sevens Group spokesperson declined to comment, stating \u201cat this stage, we are not in a position to provide comment to the media regarding Jo-Jo\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby and the department also declined to comment.<\/p>\n

It comes amid growing pressure from user groups part of Safety on Swan which have combined their voices to campaign to revitalise JoJo\u2019s jetty into an alternative location for the State Government\u2019s planned $29.9 million Matilda Bay ferry terminal.<\/p>\n

\"TourismCamera IconTourism Minister Reece Whitby. Credit: Stuart Quinn\/The West Australian<\/p>\n

The Safety on Swan campaign spokeswoman Megan Bagworth said building a hospitality precinct at the Nedlands Baths site would give the location more credibility as a more suitable alternative to the ferry terminal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not expected that a hospitality-led redevelopment – including a restaurant, caf\u00e9, bar and public amenities – would adversely impact river use or transport planning in the area,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are established examples of successful co-location along the Swan River, such as Mend Street Jetty, where transport infrastructure operates alongside local businesses and contributes to precinct vibrancy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the existing Nedlands Jetty already adjoins the JoJo\u2019s site, there is a clear opportunity for tourism and hospitality outcomes to align with broader transport planning, supporting local businesses and increasing foot traffic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Although the jetty is still operational, the former cafe and restaurant was closed in 2022, before it was handed over to Sevens Group, and has since remained vacant.<\/p>\n

Ms Bagworth said locals still hoped to see the site revitalised.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe JoJo\u2019s redevelopment was positioned as a major tourism initiative, and it would be positive to see that vision progress,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless of the outcome … we would like to see the UWA\u2013QEII improvement scheme provide a clear plan for the site that prioritises community use and recognises its history as a well-loved gathering place.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A $27 million redevelopment proposal for the Nedlands Baths site, once touted by the State Government as a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632401,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[64,63,44,45],"class_list":{"0":"post-632400","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-australia","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-wa-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=632400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632400\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=632400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=632400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=632400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}