Redevelopment of the derelict South Fremantle power station, where a man fell to his death on Saturday, is at least 10 years away, according to City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett.
On Saturday, a 24-year-old Byford man died after falling 15 metres through a hole just before 6pm while he was in the prohibited area with a woman.
The heritage-listed building, decommissioned in 1985, was flagged for residential redevelopment by the state government in 2014.
The abandoned building is popular with photographers, urban explorers and squatters but has a number of hazards.
Footage recently posted online showed a woman entering the building through a smashed window while another person his heard saying "watch out for the hole", referring to a large hole in the ground.
The Coroner is yet to confirm the number of deaths that have occurred in the derelict building, but rumours of murders and suicides are rife, particularly online.
Mr Howlett told Radio 6PR on Monday morning that he hoped the building, which is owned by Synergy, would be "tidied up a bit" as it continued to remain dormant.
WAtoday understands the main staircases in the building have been removed in an effort to deter people exploring the upper floors and the site is regularly patrolled by security.
"Clearly sign-posted around the site is do not enter signs, however that tragic incident over the weekend reminds us all to observe signs and don't enter places where you shouldn't be," Mr Howlett said.
"One would hope there would be some improvements to it in terms of tidying up the site itself and also maintaining the fencing around it, which is a critical aspect of keeping people out."
In December 2014, Minister for State Development Terry Redman announced the building would be redeveloped as part of a broader urban renewal plan for the coastline stretching from South Beach to Port Coogee.
"This visionary project will fill a gap in the market. It will provide a range of housing options to create a unique new way of urban living on the coast south of Perth, while being sympathetic to the area's industrial past," he said at the time.
"In years to come, the former power station structure will be used for retail, commercial and residential space, returning the iconic structure to a hub of activity."
Mr Howlett, reinforced the timeline for development on Monday but dodged questions about whether anyone would commit to redeveloping the site in the current economic climate.
"The Cockburn Coast development, as we refer to it, is a project that is well underway," he said.
"The power station precinct is the third precinct and will be the final one of get underway.
"[The development] could be some time off... but there is a business plan being worked up for the power station itself and one would hope to see it will become retail, commercial and residential space.
"The overall development - 6000 homes and around 12,000 people - with the power station being the last of the project, will probably be at least 10 years off in terms of development."
A Synergy spokesman expressed his condolences to the family and friends of the man who died.
"Synergy has, for many years, and will continue to secure the site and work with other stakeholders in readiness for the area to be redeveloped," he said.
"Synergy does not permit access to the site and maintains security measures to prevent people from gaining entry, however some people have broken into the site and committed acts of trespass and vandalism in the past.
"This tragic event is a reminder of why Synergy does not permit access to this site."
