The future is looking a bit brighter for some of South Australia’s dilapidated jetties following a budget commitment from the State Government.
The new pledge is a $5m annual indefinite extension of the Jetties Renewal Program aimed at underpinning the long-term health of jetties.
Adelaide Now reports that the money is designed to help local councils pay for the long-term viability of jetties, many of which are in danger of closure and falling into the ocean after decades of neglect.
The newspaper reports that there are 75 state-owned jetties in South Australia, 36 of which are leased back to local government on long-term contracts on the condition the councils pay for their maintenance.
The Yorke Peninsula’s Edithburgh jetty is one of the jetties in urgent need of repair. PIC: LGA
Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the Government was committed to working with relevant councils that are willing to co-contribute to any necessary repairs.
“The Malinauskas Labor government has already made a considerable capital contribution that demonstrates the importance we place on the significance of jetties to their local communities,” he t0ld Adelaide Now. “This ongoing commitment – locked into the budget cycle from 2027-28 – will ensure we can continue to underpin the required maintenance and upkeep of some of South Australia’s most beloved pieces of infrastructure – and some of our premier tourist attractions.”
The news comes as Tumby Bay residents celebrate the reopening of their jetty for the first time in nearly two years.
Tumby Bay Progress Association chairman Dion LeBrun said it was very exciting news.
“It’s just tremendous news for everyone in the town – the thing’s been just about worn out already – there’s been that much traffic since late yesterday afternoon when it opened,” Mr LeBrun told Adelaide Now. “And, of course, after two years or so of not catching any squid up there, apparently it was the best squidding anyone’s ever seen in their lives.”
Tumby Bay Council was able to reopen the jetty following the completion of temporary repair works. It expects the repairs to give the jetty another 12-18 months’ worth of use before more permanent works, with a cost estimated to range between $4.8m and $14m, are required.
An LGA report released earlier this year found people visiting jetties injected more than $103m into the SA economy each year.
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