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The City of Whyalla has been “overwhelmed” by the level of community response after asking for input on the town’s jetty.
Following reports deeming the town’s main jetty as unsafe, council moved quickly into an extensive period of consultation with the community to find out what the people of Whyalla want in regards to their all-important foreshore structure.
Council has now completed consultation through an online survey, a number of pop-up consultation opportunities in public places and through social media. There were 184 responses to the online survey with many more having input through public consultation.
A number of suggestions and options for the jetty were received including the desire for a longer jetty, wider platform at the end, led/solar lighting, bait stations, seating, shelter, information signage, drinking foundations, stairs to the water, a kiosk, public toilets and a desire to use durable materials to protect from vandals.
“From the comments received, it is clear the community understands the importance of the jetty in regards to visitation and tourism,” City of Whyalla CEO Chris Cowley said.
“It is also clear there is a great deal of attachment, love of, commitment to and support for the jetty.”
As part of the community consultation process, council also put forward eight concept designs to generate discussion. These included jetty structures with square ends, t-piece ends, additional width, a circle component and structure consistent with the existing jetty.
All of the concepts included shelter, seating, lighting, windbreaks, additional length and width which were also some of the most requested elements from the community consultation.
“We appreciate the community’s input on this work, it is vital we know what the people of Whyalla want in their jetty,” Mr Cowley said.
“It is, however, also vitally important we plan this properly and make sure it is affordable now and into the future.
“We understand it is frustrating to have the existing jetty out of action so we are moving as quickly as we can to find the very best possible solution for the city and our community.”
The existing jetty was constructed in 1975 as a joint venture between the Rotary Club and the Whyalla Angling Club with funds raised from the sale of timber planks used in the structure along with government and Coastal Protection Board grants.