Jetty hopes afloat
Unchain my jetty: Peter Rose is hopeful the Long Jetty restoration project will receive the funding it needs.
THE promise made by the Federal Government to provide funding towards the restoration of the Port Welshpool Long Jetty will be taken to this election.
At the 2007 election, $3.5 million was pledged and in 2010, $3 million.
Federal Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent remains a strong proponent of the project and has made an application to the Coalition to keep the commitment this year.
South Gippsland Shire Council’s director of development services Phil Stone said a total of $6 million – $1 million from council and $5 million from the State Government – had been committed towards the project.
“The estimated shortfall to restore the structure back to pedestrian access is still $5 million,” he said.
“Regional Development Australia funding has unfortunately not been forthcoming, therefore the next steps are to advocate to the federal parties for some election funding commitments.”
Mr Stone said the Federal Coalition had committed to looking at finding funds should they be elected.
“To ensure this commitment can be achieved, along with many other important funding projects in South Gippsland, several councillors and the CEO will be travelling to Canberra to lobby for support prior to the election,” he said.
“A list of council endorsed priority projects will be presented to various MPs on both sides of parliament in June.”
Peter Rose from the Port Welshpool General Store said maybe (Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South) Peter Ryan could come on board to push the project at the federal level.
“I think there is more logic in restoring the Long Jetty in stages, which is the approach suggested by Gippsland Trades and Labour Council secretary John Parker,” Mr Rose said.
“Either way, it definitely needs to happen. We still get people every day asking about the jetty and when it is going to reopen.
“Having the jetty restored would enhance Port Welshpool; it would bring more people to the area. It was a great place to fish off.”
Roger Harvey has a holiday house in Port Welshpool and also has a business connection to the sea side town.
“We have been under the impression the coalition would come up with the extra money required following the commitment of $5 million by the State Government and $1 million by South Gippsland Shire Council,” he said.
He said the jetty, which has now been shut for 10 years, is a perfect infrastructure project; it uses local timber, provides local employment and will provide a lasting tourism legacy that will have multiplier effects throughout the local economy.
“By any measure this is a depressed area in need of jobs and activity. It is worthy of unequivocal support by an election promise for funding. In principal support will not get it rebuilt,” Mr Harvey said.
While Mr Broadbent’s office is hopeful the Coalition Government will assist with the project, it will not commit to spending until the election campaign officially begins.
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