Shire President, Cr Bev Clarke whilst acknowledging Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association's (BJECA) position in relation to options to funding the Jetty Rebuild, has indicated the Jetty Rebuild is more complicated than outlined in their letter.

The Shire wants the Jetty to be self funding and not require any contributions for either capital or maintenance from any level of government in the future, therefore removing the impact upon ratepayers. After all, it is the Shire that has the role of governing for all those in the district and protecting the interests of the future residents and ratepayers as well.

If the previous approach to the sustainability of the Jetty was effective the Jetty would not have deteriorated into the condition it is and the train would still be operating and we would not be seeking $18 million to rebuild it as we are.

The maintenance plan BJECA funded presented costs in today's dollars and did not include variables such as inflation, escalation of costs of construction and interest rates, all of which impact upon the annual amount required to be allocated for maintenance.

Whilst BJECA has established a body of experience in maintaining the depreciating Jetty structure, we could have hardly expected this Association to be leading edge designers, quantity surveyors, cost analysts and marketing experts.

"When our auditors included the many relevant variables in the overall analysis the annual amount required significantly increased," Cr Clarke said.

"BJECA's position appears to contradict our expert advice on what is required to get the train running again and given BJECA does not want to accept legal responsibility for the train's operations, abrogating this to the Shire; the train will be completely safe before it starts operations again." CEO Andrew Macnish said.

"BJECA has suggested that we undertake some works now and work out how to fund the rest into the future. This is not an approach to asset management the Shire supports, nor is it in the long term interests of this community or our tourism asset" CEO Andrew Macnish said. He also acknowledged the State also requires this responsible approach.

"The Shire is facing many financial demands resulting from a growing local and visitor community and the Jetty should be self funding and not be a burden on ratepayers of the Shire now or in the future." CEO Andrew Macnish said.

The only way to achieve this is to undertake a significant level of rebuilding at one time to get the structure to a near new condition. The Shire, earlier this week, invited representatives of BJECA to a meeting to discuss a

number of issues including ones raised in their letter but is yet to receive an acceptance of this invitation.

END.

For further information in relation to this media release please contact Julie Rawlings, Public Relations Officer on 97810446 or julier@busselton.wa.gov.au