Jetty levy proposed to save SA icons falling into the ocean

As repair bills to fix the state’s dilapidated jetties skyrocket, regional leaders have urged the state government to come up with a radical solution.

Regional leaders have called on the state government to consider a new levy to fund the refurbishment and maintenance of the state's crumbling jetties.

Tumby Bay council chief executive officer Rebecca Hayes has written to the Local Government Association to suggest a new tax, similar to the emergency services levy, that would apply to all properties across the state.

“Money received through this jetty levy would be used to cover the costs associated with repair and maintenance of all jetties and would better reflect the overall value of jetties to all users,” Ms Hayes writes in her letter to the LGA.

The idea has won the backing of community leaders from several coastal councils as jetties across the state face the prospect of closure in the next few years after decades of wear and tear and inadequate maintenance funding.

LGA president Dean Johnson said the details of a statewide levy would need fleshing out but he was open to any idea that would help ensure the future of jetties.

“I’d be really keen to look at how we get some federal funding into this as well, recognising there are definitely pressures on the state budget,” Mr Johnson said.

At Tumby Bay jetty, only a pelican can access the structure as it has been closed for two years over safety concerns. Picture Dean Martin

Mt Remarkable mayor Stephen McCarthy said anything that spread the cost burden of jetty repairs was worth considering.

“When you look at the marine infrastructure hit that they (the state government) have got in front of them at the moment, it’s a major cost that none of the councils can really bear,” said Mr McCarthy, whose council takes in SA’s longest jetty at Port Germein.

“So I think if you can spread the cost through a levy across the state, I think that will certainly help.”

Tumby Bay Progress Association president Dion LeBrun said a bipartisan approach was needed to save the state’s jetties, because both Labor and Liberal governments had been guilty of neglecting marine infrastructure.

“Do we have to have a statewide levy similar to the River Murray levy or the emergency services levy where everybody in the state chucks in $100?” Mr LeBrun said. “Or do we throw it back to communities that are going to have to suffer potential 20 per cent rate increases.”

Tumby Bay Progress Association president Dion LeBrun. Picture Dean Martin

The Sunday Mail revealed last week dozens of iconic SA jetties are in danger of falling into the ocean and community leaders called for a statewide strategic review as well as a multimillion dollar cash injection.

Closure of the Tumby Bay jetty two summers ago has led to death threats and a town locals say has been “torn apart” by debate about the future of the jetty.

The state government allocated $10m in last year’s budget to help repair up to 10 ageing jetties in six regional councils.

TUMBY RESIDENTS REJECT JETTY LEVY

Tumby Bay residents overwhelmingly rejected the idea of adding an extra 10 to 15 per cent onto their rates bill to help repair the town’s jetty, which has been closed for the past two summers.

The council sent out a survey last month asking ratepayers if they would be prepared to pay a jetty levy over and above their existing rates.

Of nearly 1400 surveys returned, 83 per cent said they did not support a new levy to pay for jetty repairs the council estimated could cost up to $14m.

The council has provisionally accepted a State Government to pay $2.4m towards fixing the jetty but elected members will discuss the matter at a council meeting on Thursday night.

Chief executive Rebecca Hayes said councillors needed to decide how the council could fund its share of the repair works. A discussion paper filed for Thursday’s meeting says increasing rates remains the council’s sole “dependable” means of raising money for jetty repairs.

“Elected members need to consider whether a jetty levy should still be included in the long term financial plan, how much that levy should be (ie: 5 per cent, 10 per cent etc), how the levy should be raised, and what year it should commence,” the paper says.

“Elected Members should bear in mind that any delay in implementing a levy will impact on the council’s ability to raise the funds required for additional borrowings and impact on the date of project delivery.”

Under a long-term lease arrangement with the State Government, Tumby Bay District Council is financially responsible for jetty maintenance. A condition of accepting the government’s $2.4m is extending this lease, due to expire in December, for another 15 years.

The council this week announced it had accepted an offer from marine contractors which could see the jetty temporarily reopen in a matter of weeks.