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Port Gregory jetty needs intervention: Nats MP

Phoebe PinGeraldton Guardian
Water levels have been low at the Port Gregory jetty for several years.
Camera IconWater levels have been low at the Port Gregory jetty for several years. Credit: The West Australian

There are renewed calls to make the landlocked Port Gregory jetty serviceable for fishers who are forced to bring their catch ashore without the structure.

Member for Moore Shane Love last week made a grievance motion in Parliament to demand that the State Government “rescue” the jetty, which has been plagued by increasing sediment for about 20 years.

Mr Love said there was “not a skerrick of water” around the jetty, and fishers were forced to unload crates of crays from their boats into a dinghy before packing the catch for transport in the carpark.

“The labour-intensive, multi-staged operation of unloading the catch is costly and has forced (Port Gregory fisherman) Greg Horsman to invest in additional equipment such as a pot trailer and rope trailer,” he said.

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“Hot days when the easterly wind is blowing are the worst, and wet hemp is draped over the crates of crayfish to minimise the percentage that will be downgraded.

“(Local fisherman Colin Suckling) says that he starts out with a premium product, but in the time it takes to bring the catch ashore, the quality is deteriorating.”

Mr Love said some people had suggested that sand be excavated from around the structure to increase water levels around the jetty.

Other solutions could be dredging or extending the jetty, he said.

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But Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said a jetty extension would cost “millions of dollars” and dredging would not be suitable because of the rate of sediment build-up around the jetty, which showed “no signs of slowing”.

“Remedial dredging would only provide a short-term benefit of less than two years before further sediment build-up would be likely to restrict jetty access again,” she said.

“The remedial dredging would also be likely to result in the removal of the natural beach boat-launching ramp.”

Ms Saffioti said the problem was a “tough issue” for which she did not have an immediate solution.

“I will not say that I have a solution, but I have committed and I do commit to visit the area, meet with the council, discuss the issues, and see for myself just how stranded the jetty is,” she said.

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