Suburb-saving Patterson Lakes jetty at risk after council and State squabble over maintenance costs

A PLANNED revamp of the crumbling Patterson Lakes jetty is in jeopardy because of a squabble over who will pay for ongoing maintenance.

Labor candidate Sonya Kilkenny looks set to win the seat of Carrum on the Mornington Peninsula, after the Victorian State Election.

A PLANNED revamp of the crumbling Patterson Lakes jetty is in jeopardy because nobody can agree to pay for ongoing maintenance.

State Government and Kingston council are at odds over who should cough up the cash for the project, and the row has gone public with a Facebook spat between Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny and Kingston mayor Tamsin Bearsley.

Ms Kilkenny has accused Kingston council of an “about-face” regarding maintenance costs for the $700,000 project.

The Inner Harbour jetty concept came about after lobbying from local businesses and community groups, who believe a public marina would help attract boat users and reinvigorate the suburb.

It could also provide a berth for the Water Police and Volunteer Coast Guard, who are unable to use the current timber jetty due to safety concerns.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Who should pay for the jetty upkeep? Tell us below

Ms Kilkenny took to social media to lambaste the council, saying she was “extremely disappointed” by what she saw as “misrepresentation of their true position”.

“Despite previously saying it would support a new public jetty, Kingston Council has done a complete about-face and is now refusing to support this project,” Ms Kilkenny said.

“The project may not get up because Kingston Council won’t sign the agreement.”

However, Kingston Council said it never pledged to fund future maintenance, but instead passed a motion in December agreeing to set up a “community-based committee” to oversee the operation of the public jetty.

The council had hoped one of its representatives could join Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and others to make up the committee.

Carrum MP Sonya Kilkenny tees off on Kingston council over funding for the Patterson Lakes jetty.

Kingston mayor Tamsin Bearsley responds.

Cr Bearsley said due to rate-capping putting limitations on council spending, the council couldn’t bear the sole brunt of future costs.

“It’s really important that we manage our money effectively and well, and that we don’t take on an asset that’s going to be sitting in State waters,” Cr Bearsley said.

Chief executive John Nevins agreed, saying it was “not for council” to accept the financial responsibility to maintain an asset “that will be a State asset in a State water body”.

Harbour Plaza shopping centre representative David Taranto has lived in Patterson Lakes for 30 years, and he’s hoping to see the funding spat resolved as quickly as possible.

“We’ve been trying to do something like this here for more than 20 years,” Mr Taranto said.

“It’s important, because Launching Way in Carrum is one of the busiest areas for boating in the state. This would give them an area where they can stop off for food or to use the bathroom, and it would have a positive economic outcome for local business and traders.”

Mr Taranto said the Inner Harbour marina would also provide “direct boating access” to nearby medical centres in case of an emergency at sea, as well as improved disabled access to the waterfront.

Cr Bearsley said she is hoping to engage in further talks with Ms Kilkenny and other stakeholders to discuss their options.

A meeting between the parties is scheduled for early next month.