The Vision for the Busselton Jetty is Important to the Community

It's time to bring the debate about Busselton jetty back to the big picture. Do we want to save the jetty, or not? Do we want to make the most of the wonderful opportunities it can provide to our community?

Busselton Jetty has been an important part of our community for more than 100 years. We aren't prepared to give up on the historic icon without fighting for its future. The jetty has huge potential to help provide more jobs and much greater lifestyle, recreational and sporting opportunities in our region.

Ratepayers appear to be expressing considerable support for this broad belief that the jetty is worth saving. The 2005 community survey shows approximately 70% were interested in measures to save the jetty. If the community generally agrees that saving the jetty is important then all the other discussions we've heard and read in the media are an essential part of the debate about the best way to get the job done.

For the next three weeks this space will be devoted to outlining some of the key issues and opportunities involved in rebuilding the jetty. In the meantime, the search for the best way to fund the project will continue. Nothing has been finalised, but we do know the Shire can't rebuild the jetty alone, without it involving enormous levels of debt and an ensuing impact on rates, so assistance from State and Federal Governments is essential.

The Busselton Jetty Working Group has been established to spearhead this process specifically because there are multiple partners involved in this project.

Rebuilding the jetty
One good option is to construct a new jetty parallel to the original structure from the beach to where it turns north. This would provide a new, safe jetty that will last for generations and allow the original structure to be connected to it so we preserve our heritage.

The rest of the northern end of the jetty could then be both repaired and have the deck expanded to allow better access and much greater recreational and other uses.

Long-term sustainability of the whole structure - and the finances, heritage and environment associated with it - is an essential part of any Shire plans. A long-term maintenance schedule has been prepared for a rebuilt structure that runs over many decades. We are currently investigating if this can be fully funded from the jetty's operational revenue to ensure we never repeat the situation that the Shire and Governments now find themselves in with the original jetty.

What's driving decision-making at the Shire?
In simple terms, the Shire wants to save the jetty for a range of economic, environmental and social reasons. The jetty is one of the region’s primary tourism attractions and a