MEDIA RELEASE 

The 816 submissions received by the Busselton Jetty Working Group (Working Group) will be independently reviewed by consultants Taylor Burrell Barnett over the coming weeks and collated into a report for consideration by the Working Group.

Working Group Co-Chairs, Adele Farina MLC and Shire President Cr. Kevin Douglas welcomed the public response to the call for submissions noting that a number of people had made very detailed submissions, some including concept plans of their own.

Ms. Farina said "The consultants anticipate having a report on the submissions to the Working Group by about late February 2007".

  Financial Assistance for Community Groups, Organisations, Projects and Events in the Shire Of Busselton

Financial assistance is available to groups and organisations for projects and events in the Shire of Busselton.

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?

Results of a wide-ranging community survey released today (9 February) are playing a critical role in determining the direction of the Shire of Busselton's soon to be launched five year strategic plan.  

The Shire has made the survey report, which was completed in January, available to ratepayers. The full version will be available on its website www.busselton.wa.gov.au from the end of this week (Friday, 10 February), while a summary document can be obtained by contacting the Shire offices.

Among the key results of the community survey were:

• Environmental sustainability is the broad area of greatest overall importance to residents
• The most important facilities and services provided to residents are bush fire control, beach and foreshore management, mosquito control, public bins and parking in Busselton and Dunsborough
• The service provision that residents are most satisfied with includes the local libraries, the recycling collection, parks and gardens and sporting ovals
• The services or facilities that residents are least satisfied with are the main jetty at Busselton, the standard of roads in the Shire, Leavers Week, environmental pollution control and mosquito control
• Residents are also supportive of the commercial development of the main foreshore area in Busselton.

The Shire of Busselton is committed to finding a way to fund the estimated $16 million worth of refurbishment and repairs that are required to ensure the future of our iconic jetty.

Shire President Kevin Douglas has stated that the jetty's future is dependent upon the commitment of all tiers of government working in a cooperative manner.

Cr Douglas said, on this basis, the State Government has been made aware of the challenge and the Shire is shortly to have discussions with the local Federal Parliamentarian.

"While the Minister for Tourism WA faces some difficulty in providing any assurance of financial assistance and is questioning an agreement made in 1988, the Shire, however, remains confident the State Government will work with us to find a resolution to these issues," he said.