The jetty at Sandy Beach Reserve.
Camera IconThe jetty at Sandy Beach Reserve. Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim.

Jetty upgrade up for debate

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BASSENDEAN Council has backed a proposed replacement of the closed jetty at Sandy Beach Reserve but does not want to take over the ownership from the State Government.

Councillors voted 5-1 for Cr Kath Hamilton’s alternate motion on August 27 for chief executive Peta Mabbs to write a letter supporting a replacement jetty but also telling the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions that the Town did not want to take over running it.

The Department has been liaising with the Town about the potential replacement and its plans to apply for funding for the replacement from the Department of Transport under the Recreational Boating Facility Scheme and another plan to develop a foreshore river wall.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

However, the Department wanted the Town to pay for half of the proposed river wall and take over the jetty’s ownership.

River view at Sandy Beach Reserve. Kristie Lim
Camera IconRiver view at Sandy Beach Reserve. Kristie Lim Credit: Supplied/Kristie Lim

The jetty, which is the only jetty in WA still under the Department’s control, has been closed since November 2018 after an engineering inspection deemed it unsafe and at the end of its life.

Mayor Renee McLennan said the council supported a replacement jetty but did not want to be responsible for its ongoing management and maintenance.

“The cost burden of taking on a new asset such as this may be significant for a small local government, but a comparatively insignificant cost for the State Government,” she said.

“Given that the river and facilities such as this are shared by the wider community beyond the Town of Bassendean, council is requesting that the Department to retain ownership and management of the new facility if successful in its grant application to fund the project.”

A Department spokeswoman said the Department was still in discussions with the Town.

More news from around Perth