Funding pledge for Busselton Jetty

The longest timber jetty in the world received a boost yesterday with the Coalition announcing it would spend $1.5 million on an upgrade.

Announcing the funding at the 1.8km Busselton Jetty, the town’s signature tourist attraction, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the funds would revitalise the jetty precinct, which was the “gateway and heart” of the Busselton foreshore.

“This is all part of a really substantial renovation (and) development of this precinct,” Mr Turnbull said.

“It has got enormous opportunity in terms of activating tourism potential and, of course, it is a big part of building the commercial and tourist opportunities in this region.”

Forrest MP Nola Marino welcomed the funding, which comes from the Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, saying the city of Busselton had a “great future”.

“This region is a major economic driver for the whole South West and the State,” she said.

Mr Turnbull did not have time to take the train to the jetty’s end, but toured the structure’s interpretive centre, which has a carriage that brought timber to Busselton to build the jetty.