One year on: The Newhaven Jetty remains closed, locals continue to fight

A jetty at one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations has been fenced off to the public for more than a year, with angry locals demanding answers on its reopening.

Locals had a first “unhappy birthday” for the Newhaven Jetty that has been closed since May 1, 2024. Picture: Facebook/Melina Bath MP

A jetty at one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations has been fenced off to the public for more than a year after safety hazards forced its closure, with angry locals demanding the state government make its reopening a priority.

The Newhaven Jetty was closed “indefinitely” by Parks Victoria on May 1 last year due to structural failures, with its closure hitting the popular Saltwater Phillip Island restaurant.

Restaurant owner Ben Dennis said the jetty was a popular spot for wedding photos and its closure had drastically cut bookings.

Saltwater Phillip Island owner Ben Dennis says the closure of the Newhaven Jetty has greatly impacted his business. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“Who wants to get married in front of a construction fence?,” Mr Dennis said.

Women in fishing advocate Amanda Keilar told the Herald Sun the community held an “unhappy birthday” for the beloved site on Thursday.

“It’s too good an asset to ignore — the jetty is the birthplace of our local fishing fleet,” Ms Keilar said.

“It’s too precious for us to just watch it fall into disrepair.”

The Newhaven Jetty had an "unhappy birthday" last Thursday after being closed for an entire year. Picture: Facebook/Melina Bath MP

She said the jetty’s repair costs were being dealt with by Ports Minister Melissa Horne, and Bass state Labor MP Jordan Crugnale told her the costs were lower than expected.

But Nationals MP Melina Bath said the community was “not going away” on the issue.

“There’s just the pure impact of local residents and visitors not being able to access the jetty as a free fishing platform — they’re still so frustrated they can’t fish off it,” Ms Bath said.

“It’s an eyesore now.”

An engineering inspection was completed under the jetty by company Southern Divers in March. Picture: Facebook/Save the Newhaven Jetty

Although the community had the option to visit the San Remo Jetty as an alternative, the area had become “far busier” and “less safe” due to the influx of people, she said.

Ms Bath added the closure was costing jobs for Mr Dennis.

“Ben is a direct and observable impact by the loss of the custom he’s missing out on,” Ms Bath said.

“Others, it’s more the general impact on tourism due to the loss of the amenities.”

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In February this year, Ms Bath tabled a petition in state parliament requesting the government conduct a transparent structural and load bearing assessment to accurately establish the jetty’s condition.

In March, she was pleased to see that an engineering inspection was completed under the jetty by Southern Divers, saying it was a step closer to more answers.

A state government spokeswoman said the government spent more than $150m on jetty repairs and upgrades since 2018, and the Newhaven Jetty would be prioritised for future investment.

The spokeswoman said the government would continue to assess priorities for investment in piers and jetties under its sustainable local ports framework.

Parks Victoria was contacted for comment.