FISHERMANS Jetty in Mornington Harbour is in for a major safety revamp as part of $18 million allocated to piers and jetties across Victoria.
The jetty is now closed to boats after an engineering inspection found it was not safe as a safe access for berthing.
More than $6.7 million has been allocated from the 2022-23 state budget to plan the future of Mornington Harbour and rebuild the jetty.
Jo Richards, Parks Victoria’s regional director southern and maritime region, said planning for the future of the harbour was anticipated to begin late-2022 and will consider the area’s future economic, tourism, transportation and community needs.
“Ensuring public safety is our priority and we are working closely with affected berth holders to provide alternative options where possible,” Richards said.
Boating enthusiast Paul Hasenkam said it was good to know the jetty could be repaired but cautioned that the allocated money be “quarantined” and spent carefully to ensure a proper job is done.
Hasenkam last year called for Parks Victoria to increase annual mooring fees and use the extra money to maintain the jetty.
He said the jetty and adjoining stone wall area should always be open to the public.
“It’s [the wall] completely rusted out. I appreciate that its part of the job and will make it more expensive. It has been patched up and needs addressing,” he said.
“It’s never going to be more that what it is – but replacing and maintaining the structure is important.”
Hasenkam said the jetty was “a public place” that should remain public.
“There are plenty of berths and more could be created making it more of a hub,” he said.
“The government has done a great job with the large wall, it’s time to capitalise on that and increase the capacity to what is was before.”
First published in the Mornington News – 28 June 2022
