On Thursday 27th March a delegation from the Shire of Busselton, visited the Hon Gary Gray MP, Member for Brand and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australia.  The delegation consisted of Cr Wes Hartley, President, Andrew Macnish, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Martin, Economic Development Manager of the Shire of Busselton; Daryl Green, Executive Officer of BJECA (Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association); Ray McMillan CEO of Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Pro-Busselton; and Matt Walker, General Manager of the Geographe Bay Tourism Association. 

During that meeting Mr Gray indicated that there would be cutbacks, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars throughout Australia, previously allocated to the Regional Partnership Program by the former Coalition Government as the program was significantly overspent.

According to Mr Gray the Shire's application under the Regional Partnerships Program had been approved prior to the Federal Election, however the Coalition Government waited to announce the funding as part of the election campaign when the government was in caretaker mode.

Mr Gray advised that promised grants that were not yet the subject of contractual arrangements would not be proceeded with.  The previously promised $6 million from the former Coalition Government for the Busselton Jetty reconstruction was amongst those projects that would not be approved by the Rudd Labour Government. 

As a consequence of that meeting, the Shire President requested an urgent meeting with the Hon Mark McGowan, MLA, Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the South West and Hon Adele Farina MLC, Member for the South West Region on Sunday 30th March.  Representatives of the Shire of Busselton, the Minister's Office and the South West Development Commission were also present.  

During that meeting both the Minister and the Shire President reconfirmed their commitment to the resolution of the Council of the Shire of Busselton of 28th November 2007 to accept the State Government's offer.  It was recognised that an essential partnership of intent still existed, despite the rejection by the Federal Government of its anticipated financial commitment to the Jetty Reconstruction.

It was further resolved in principle that the Shire of Busselton and the State Government of Western Australia would renegotiate an agreement as two equal partners, based on a joint commitment to the reconstruction of the entire Jetty, as previously announced.  This will require an ongoing maintenance program for the future life of the Jetty, as previously resolved to by Council.

This reflected the Shire's view that the State has a shared responsibility with the Shire of Busselton to ensure the Jetty is sustained into the future.

Shire President Wes Hartley said "In line with this, the Shire has written to the Minister requesting an additional $6 million contribution towards the Jetty Rebuild taking the State's contribution to a total of $12 million."                                                       

This would be matched by the commitment of $11 million already made by the Shire on 28^th November 2007 and a commitment of $1.6 million from BJECA.

Shire President Wes Hartley said "The Shire has the financial capacity to get the train running again, but requires the State's contribution to undertake the other necessary rebuilding work and securing of Section 10, beyond the Under Water Observatory as previously indicated."  

The President and the Minister also reaffirmed their commitment to have works commencing in the Spring of 2008.

This new proposed funding model will be referred to Council for consideration and also considered by Cabinet from the perspective of the State's ongoing commitment to the reconstruction of this icon of the State's tourism industry.    

The recognition that the Federal Government would not be a net contributor to this reconstruction project, now freed both the Shire of Busselton and the State Government to proceed quickly to the finalisation of the new arrangements, as desired by the citizens of the Shire of Busselton.

Media enquiries can be directed to the Shire's Public Relations Officer, Helena Webb on 0448 978 378 or  helena.webb@bussleton.wa.gov.au