Building a future for Busselton’s famous jetty
Progress continues to be made on the refurbishment of the iconic Busselton Jetty, despite delays in construction caused by winter weather.
The $27.1 million project, which began earlier this year, involves replacement of approximately 50 per cent of the 1.84 kilometre jetty structure – 900 metres of which will be demolished.
To date, about 900 metres or half of the total jetty length, has been dismantled to enable repairs to existing timber, steel and concrete members and installation of other new works.
Thirty of a total of 290 new timber and steel piles have been driven.
Busselton Jetty marketing manager Jane Ashcroft said the recent change in the weather has seen pile driving recommence in earnest, with typically five piles driven each day.
“It is expected that 230 piles will be driven between the shore and the underwater observatory by Christmas this year with the final 60 piles beyond the underwater observatory being driven in the New Year,” she said.
“The offsite fabrication of new steel beams and concrete deck planks is very well progressed.
“The installation of the new steel beams, concrete decking and other areas of timber decking is planned to commence in November.
“At the same time the reinstallation of refurbished steel trusses and other refurbished decking will also commence from a second work front midway along the jetty.”
The reopening of the full length including the last 100 metre long section north of the underwater observatory is scheduled for August 2010.
This will be followed by the recommencement of the jetty train and underwater observatory, marking a return to form for the popular eco-tourism site that attracts about 400,000 visitors a year.
In the meantime, access to the first 200m of the jetty, including the first fishing platform and interpretative centre, has been permitted.
The South West Development Commission is a stakeholder in the project and is tasked with administrating the State Government’s $24 million contribution to the refurbishment.