DEAR News Of The Area,
I NOTE that Mayor Williams, on a Facebook post, has advised that she is meeting with the Federal Government to discuss federal funding to carry out repairs to our historic jetty, with the repair bill estimated to amount between $20m and $30m.
The recent history of the jetty is that, in 1990, the-then Coffs Council resolved to accept the ongoing maintenance of the jetty provided that “the jetty is brought up to a state of full maintenance and safety.”
The State Government at the time agreed and provided $3.8m to conserve the jetty structure. Much credit for procuring the funds went to the late Ray Kratz OAM (ex Deputy Mayor of Coffs Council and President of the Coffs Harbour Historical Society).
The conserved jetty was reopened in a massive ceremony in October 1997 by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon Carl Scully, but Council did not take over their responsibility for the jetty until 2002.
Since then, successive Councils have made minimal repairs, resulting now in a massive repair bill.
I hope that the Mayor is successful in procuring the much-needed funds but it would not surprise me if both the federal and state governments reject Council’s request due to its previous poor maintenance record.
Regards,
Jeff Clancy,
Coffs Harbour.
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