By Brad Lester

SOUTH Gippsland Shire Council has voted unanimously to reallocate $10,000 of its Planning and Building budget to develop a business case for the Port Welshpool Long Jetty.

The jetty was extensively damaged by fire in January, with a dropped cigarette butt believed to be the cause.

In last Wednesday’s council meeting Cr Mohya Davies spoke of the importance of the jetty to the region.

“I don’t really feel I need to say too much. I think most of us are aware of the importance of the iconic structure at Port Welshpool and its significance to the council and the shire generally in terms of tourism,” she said.

“I think we have enormous opportunities in our shire to expand tourism in terms of fishing and boating, and I think it’s very appropriate council allocate some funds toward developing a case to support the redevelopment of the Long Jetty.”

Meanwhile, the South Gippsland tourism industry has missed out on millions of dollars of lost income as a result of the closure of the Long Jetty.

A report by major accounting group Ernest and Young showed recreational anglers spend between $200 and $250 a day, and without access to the Long Jetty, those anglers would have bypassed the region since the jetty closed in 2003.

That figure was brought to the attention of the Welshpool and District Advisory Group by a representative of the state’s peak recreational angler group, VR Fish, at a meeting last week.

Advisory group president Paul Macphail said: “When the jetty was open, a lot of people used it and they would usually stop and buy something. The income would certainly add up.”

The meeting, at the Welshpool Rural Transaction Centre, was held to form a steering group to lobby for the restoration of the Long Jetty and receive a business plan for the proposed underwater observatory.

On a positive note, re-opening the jetty would restore that income as the jetty is the only one used for deepwater fishing between San Remo and Eden, New South Wales.

The steering group will comprise members of the Welshpool and District Advisory Group, the Port Welshpool Working Group, and South Gippsland Shire Council.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment and Gippsland Ports were invited to attend, but declined because of a perceived conflict of interest.

“It was disappointing that there was no one from DSE there because that’s who we need to get through to,” Mr Macphail said.

Gippsland Ports CEO Nick Murray said: “Because Gippsland Ports will be involved in evaluating the expressions of interest (for using the jetty), if and when those are invited, there will clearly be a conflict of interest to also be part of the steering committee with a prospective proponent.

“But we strongly support any community activity to try and bring forward a decision on the future of the jetty from government.”

Council will receive a report advocating for the support for refurbishment of the jetty at today’s council meeting (Wednesday).

The group will also ask Gippsland South MLA Peter Ryan to approach the DSE, demanding to know when a comprehensive condition assessment of the jetty will be done and when expressions of interest to use the jetty would be called for.

“Responsibility for the jetty will be handed to the Department of Transport in June but that’s a few months away. It’s dead time,” Mr Macphail said.

“We need a study of what it is going to cost to fix it. Surely that should be an easy thing to get started.”

The steering committee will also ask about insurance cover of the area damaged by fire recently and also copper electricity wire stolen from under the jetty.

Mr Macphail said the business plan showed the underwater observatory would be viable.

That plan emphasised the restoration and management of the jetty was essential for the observatory to be installed.

But the plan predicted the jetty could operate in its own right by generating income through access fees and observatory fees.

According to the plan, the observatory could attract 60-150,000 visitors a year, raising $1 million in the first year through entry fees. That could rise to $1.65 million after thee years. Opportunities for local retail sales and educational tours could generate extra income.

The observatory is expected to raise $50,000 every year towards maintenance of the jetty.

The public would be charged to access the jetty during the day, in return for sheltered fishing opportunities, drinking water and fish cleaning facilities.

Lights will be installed at night to attract nocturnal species such as squid and octopus, and people with disabilities will be catered by a lift.

The observatory will be overseen by a management group from the Welshpool and District Advisory Group and an observatory manager.

Up to three guides would service the jetty, depending on crowds.

The plan stated the advisory group members would have the financial expertise in running the jetty, having successfully operated the Welshpool Rural Transaction Centre since 1999.

James Archibald of Destination Gippsland, the region’s peak marketing group, told the meeting how his organisation aimed to use the Long Jetty, if refurbished, as a major tourism icon.

South Gippsland Shire councillors Jeanette Harding and Moyha Davies also attended and so did council’s tourism co-ordinator, Christian Stefani. He was appointed as the official council representative to the new group.