City of Coffs Harbour Council says it will “go back to the well” in a bid to shore up support for a heritage-listed jetty structure which urgently requires extensive refurbishment.
A report on the 450-metre long jetty has found it is in poor condition and nearing the end of its serviceable life.
Built in 1892, it is the last surviving State Government-built jetty in NSW from the late 19th century. Since then the jetty has been widened in parts, lengthened several times, strengthened, narrowed in parts and finally shortened.
The cost of works to repair the structure has been estimated at $30 million.
“It is a State-significant asset and an emblem of Coffs Harbour,” said Mayor, Paul Amos.
“Since 2008 the local community has funded more than $4 million worth of works to the jetty, but this major renewal needs to be met by the State and Federal governments.”
The jetty is owned by the State Government but was passed to the Council in 2002 to manage.
In August 2023, the Council lodged an expression of interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s new Growing Regions Program which provides up to 50% of project funding up to a maximum of $15 million. The Council was then invited in November to lodge a full grant application, which was lodged in January 2024.
The grant application requested $14,994,210 of funding and was accompanied by letters of support from respective local MPs Pat Conaghan and Gurmesh Singh, Heritage NSW, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast, Destination North Coast NSW, the Yandaarra Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and the Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce among others. However, the Council was advised recently that its application was unsuccessful.
Also, a request for the NSW Government to match the proposed Federal funding was unsuccessful, though the State indicated the Council could investigate other “funding opportunities”, Council said in a statement.
At its meeting on 25 July, Council resolved to reapply for State funding, and if this is not forthcoming, to consider handing the seaward section of the jetty back to the NSW Government, it said.
“The jetty is a landmark and a vivid reminder of our industrial past as a major port. It is also a major tourist attraction. Put simply, it’s an asset that must be safeguarded for now and into the future,” said Council Infrastructure Director, Andrew Beswick.
