For grey nomads arriving in small coastal towns, the almost universally present wooden jetty is one of the first ports of call.
It’s a place to stroll along, to eat fish and chips, or to throw in a line. And it’s a link to the community’s history.
Many of these iconic structures though are in desperate need of repair … and that doesn’t come cheap.
However, the cost of losing them might perhaps be even higher.
New research shows the South Australian economy could lose over $103 million every year if jetties along that state’s coastlines ceased to exist.
The Yorke Peninsula’s Edithburgh jetty is in urgent need of repair. PIC: LGA
Released by the Local Government Association (LGA), the Value of Jetties report sought the input of more than 2,400 people to get a sense of how jetties are used, and their economic impact.
Findings showed people who visited a jetty in the past year made around 44 return trips annually, spending anywhere between $26 and $50 during each visit.
An upgrade could cost $16 million. PIC: LGA
“When people visit jetties, not only are they improving their mental and physical wellbeing through exercise and enjoying the fresh air, but they’re also stopping by the local café, restaurant or caravan park and spending money with local businesses,” said LGA President, Mayor Dean Johnson. “Unfortunately, many of our jetties across South Australia need serious repair – some are so bad they’ve been forced to close due to safety concerns, which is a huge shame.”
And it’s not simply a matter of wear-and-tear maintenance. Extreme storms can cause significant damage to jetties, and that often means structural investment running into the millions.
On the Yorke Peninsula, for, example, the local council has been quoted $16 million to upgrade the Edithburgh jetty, which is the number one dive site in South Australia.
Local mayor, Darren Braund, said the council simply didn’t have the ratepayer base to support that kind of project without external funding – either from federal or state governments, or both – and it’s a situation many other coastal councils are facing.
“Divers and snorkelers come from all over the state to swim at Edithburgh jetty,” he said. “And it would be devastating for communities if this vital coastal asset – and others like it – was left to fall by the wayside due to government inaction.”
The LGA says councils are collectively spending around $2 million each year to take care of South Australia’s jetties, but don’t have the capacity to fund repairs alone. It wants the State Government to work with local government on a sustainable long-term solution to secure the future of jetties and ‘ensure these valuable assets aren’t lost for good’.
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Jetty, Wharf, Pier – Many can be utilised to provide other attractions on them – Kiosks, Bars, Novelty outlets and restaurants.
This has been done in Darwin to great effect, and to many other ocean side structures around the World.
Councils utilising rentals money for the upkeep of the structures would be the key – and not putting it in their General Funds basket.