The South Australian Government is set to provide councils in regional areas with funding to revitalise ageing jetties as part of its new Jetties Renewal Program.
The program is part of a $20 million investment to improve the condition and sustainability of jetties, reopening them and keeping them open to locals and visitors for years to come.
As part of the program, the State Government has allocated $10 million over four years for divested jetties (owned by the state but leased to local councils). This funding is expected to support up to ten jetty projects across six council areas, including on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Fleurieu Peninsula and in the South East.
Amongst councils to be awarded funding was Alexandrina Council, which was awarded $174,000 to reopen the Port Elliot Jetty, which closed to the public in February 2023 due to significant structural and safety issues. City of Port Lincoln was also awarded $380,000 for jetty refurbishment works which were completed in late 2023.
Currently, 35 of the state’s 75 jetties are divested to councils. Under these lease arrangements, councils are responsible for all repairs and maintenance.
Councils were encouraged to apply for funding in November 2023. The Department for Infrastructure and Transport received ten applications for funding totalling $40.308 million. As a result, several projects have been recommended to be rescoped to better align with the program’s objectives. This has resulted in some funding offers to councils being changed to focus on critical repairs only, maximising the number of jetties which can be funded through the program.
Councils to receive funding were asked to contribute financially to their project on a 50/50 split and accepted an extension to the lease arrangements for a minimum of 15 years once their project is completed.