Replacement jetty unlikely

The cost of demolishing the Bunbury Timber Jetty is expected to blow the City of Bunbury’s $7 million budget, leaving no money to build a replacement jetty.

Tenders for the demolition and construction of a replacement jetty are expected out at the end of the month after the council discusses the jetty at a closed-door meeting tonight.

The council has $7 million to complete the demolition and, if there is any money left over, to build a new jetty.

A number of conditions attached to the demolition by the WA Planning Commission are expected to add significant cost to the job.

The council has been told demolition has to stop each time one of Koombana Bay’s 265 dolphins swims within 500m of the deteriorating structure.

The waters surrounding the jetty then have to be clear for 15 minutes before work can recommence.

The ‘‘marine fauna exclusion zone’’ may, however, be reduced to 50m to 100m due to the smaller scale of the project, which will not be drilling or blasting.

The council has approached the Dolphin Discovery Centre about providing a ‘‘marine fauna observer’’ to watch for dolphins.

BunburyMayorDavid Smith said workers could potentially be stopped a number of times a day by visiting dolphins but would still need to be paid.

‘‘It would certainly add to the cost,’’ he said.

Councillor Brendan Kelly said he believed the council would not have enough money to construct a new jetty after demolition was finished.

‘‘I believe it is a momentous task and I’m convinced the council does not have the money to reconstruct a jetty,’’ he said.

Bunbury Timber Jetty Environment and Conservation Society president Phil Smith said it was essential the city had a replacement jetty.

‘‘It’s not that we want a jetty, we need a jetty,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s not enough to just pull it down — it needs to be replaced.’’