Tag: jetty

A tale of two jetties

All too often, we see prized fishing jetties desperately needing TLC and restoration abandoned, left to rot or demolished as the red tape around who is responsible in managing and maintaining them puts them in the ‘too-hard’ basket for many local authorities.  

Huge credit then must be given to Dardanup Shire Council, who has stepped up to save a historic, popular fishing jetty on the south side of the Collie River.  

The Collie River southern fishing platform was attached to the old Collie River Bridge, which was built in 1962 and managed by the Shire of Harvey in co-operation with Main Roads WA. 

A new concrete and steel bridge was opened in April 2010, followed by construction of a new pedestrian boardwalk in 2011 linking the original jetty and fishing platform to the riverbank. 

The eastern end of the boardwalk connected the facility to the Shire of Dardanup, while the western end connected the facility to the City of Bunbury. 

Generations of fishing-mad mums, dads and kids have fished the north and south jetties, however, in recent times both have fallen into disrepair and have been closed off to the public. 

As a result, The Dardanup Shire council – located inland from Bunbury and Australind – recently voted to save, refurbish and take ownership of the southern jetty and go it alone to restore it to its former glory as a crabbing and fishing hotspot, after negotiations with Main Roads and neighboring councils, including the City of Bunbury and Shire of Harvey – were unsuccessful. 

Meanwhile, it is understood that plans are being considered to demolish the northern jetty (which is out of the Shire of Dardanup’s jurisdiction and control), which would send a wrecking ball through the hopes of local fishers to one day once again fish the currently closed dilapidated platform.  

Jurisdiction of jetty management and maintenance can be as clear as mud, so Recfishwest applauds the Shire of Dardanup for stepping up to the plate and taking ownership of the Old Collie River Bridge southern jetty.

Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett said the jetty was a well-used community facility and ensuring safe access to waterways for recreational activities was part of the Council’s strategic plan. 

“The Collie River and its foreshore area in Eaton has special significance to residents of our shire as well as those in neighbouring areas,” Cr Bennett said. 

“The river also has cultural, spiritual and historic significance to local Aboriginal people – particularly the Wardandi, Pindjarup and Wilman people who used this land for hunting, fishing, camping and ceremony, and to visit and pay respect to their sacred sites. 

“For these reasons, Council felt compelled to ensure the jetty’s future and the ongoing enjoyment of its availability for all.” 

News of the southern jetty’s reprieve was welcomed by local fishers.  

Mitchell Cooper from Whitey’s Tackle in Australind said, “This is one of the most accessible spots along the whole waterfront of the Collie River and it’s a vital fishing platform for the area. It’s really the best spot for crabbing if you don’t have a boat and it’s great for young kids who want to go for tailor and crabs. To be honest, there is not much else here as far as decent jetties go.”  

Recfishwest applauds the Shire of Dardanup for standing up for local fishers and doing what needs to be done to save a much-loved community fishing landmark. 

“The pleasure and value these structures give as fishing platforms is simply priceless and every seaside town next to an estuary should have a jetty for local and visiting fishers,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland. “Both these jetties clearly play a really important role in the social fabric of the local communities, providing families and friends with opportunities to get together and kids a healthy outdoor outlet all through fishing.  

“So we’re really pleased the Shire of Dardanup values fishing and what it gives to the community by cutting through the red tape and taking the initiative.  

“We hope that the jurisdictions and agencies responsible for the fishing platform on the northern riverbank show similar leadership and invest in its restoration and maintenance for future generations before it is lost forever.” 

Recfishwest will keep you updated across our social platforms on information related to the Collie Bridge jetties – stay tuned.  

For more information on the Shire of Dardanup website, click here.  

Hats off to the Shire of Dardanup for pushing to restore the southern jetty adjacent to the Old Collie Bridge (pictured above) back to its former glory as a fantastic land-based fishing spot for people of all abilities.

Land-based fishing access for Port Hedland goes to the next level – literally!

Thanks to an innovative jetty design, Port Hedland’s new land-based fishing platform will adapt perfectly to the ever-changing conditions, so land-based fishers won’t have to!

What’s more, the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has safely deployed six mangrove jack, cod and coral trout-attracting reef balls, donated by Rio Tinto, under the smart-design jetty to further enhance fishing opportunities.

PPA placed fishing considerations at the fore of its ongoing construction of the Spoilbank Marina, with better flexibility to fish during Port Hedland’s large tidal swings implemented into the jetty’s design and build.

Given the difference between the low and high tide mark in Port Hedland is frequently around six metres, PPA constructed two levels on the platform that allows fishers the freedom to wet a line either during the low or high tide mark, with wheelchair accessibility included.

Drawing on our artificial reef expertise, Recfishwest assisted PPA in the configuration of the six reef balls, providing tips on how to maximise the effectiveness of the reef modules.

Six reef balls have been safely positioned under the innovative dual-level fishing platform and slightly off to either side to create an inviting habitat for fish and boost the abundance in species for land-based anglers.

The pylons of the jetty themselves will help provide shelter and structure for the settlement of marine flora, algae, crustaceans and bait fish, further encouraging multiple species that fishers love to target to congregate and move between the pylons and individual reef structures.

We have also advised PPA on deploying additional reef ball modules and other reef structures around the marina parallel to the breakwall on the inside of the marina.

By providing other areas of habitat enhancement within the marina, this will help reduce overcrowding on the fishing jetty upon its completion, while also increasing catches of sought-after species.

An artist’s impression of the Spoilbank Marina fishing platform being constructed by the Pilbara Ports Authority. The platform will give recreational fishers improved access to fishing the fluctuating low or high-tide mark in Port Hedland.

Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “It’s great to see that the Pilbara Ports Authority have taken the interests of recreational fishers to heart in designing this marina and fishing platform – we’d like to see other Ports Authorities’ follow this example providing better access for land-based fishers.”

“Not only does the design take advantage of the fluctuating tides in this region, but the modules positioned in the marina will eventually house a wide range of species the community loves to catch.”

It’s good news for Port Hedland’s boat fishers too in the $187.5 million construction of the Spoilbank Marina project, funded by the State Government, Town of Port Hedland and BHP.

“Once complete, the marina will feature a four-lane boat ramp, 22 boat pens, fish cleaning stations and barbecue facilities,” said Pilbara Ports Authority General Manager Engineering and Infrastructure, Charles Kretzmann.

“The Spoilbank Marina will improve safe access to deep water by providing a separate entrance channel for recreational boaters and fishers to use away from large commercial bulk carriers navigating in and out of the port,” added Charles.

Recfishwest will continue to consult with PPA on the ongoing Spoilbank Marina construction, which is expected to be operational by late 2023, with landside completion expected in early 2024.

If you wish to keep up to date on the Spoilbank Marina project, check out the Spoilbank Marina Facebook Page.

Port Hedland has always been an attractive land-based fishing destination for many anglers given the wide range of species on offer and the new Spoilbank Marina development by the Pilbara Ports Authority aims to enhance fishing accessibility in this region.

 

Giving some mussel muscle to the Peel-Harvey inlet

Thanks to jetty owners throughout the Peel-Harvey estuary near Mandurah, shellfish numbers have taken a boost and are supporting native fish populations in the region.  

The reason behind the growing mussel abundance comes down to a clever initiative called ‘Pimp My Jetty’ – created by Ozfish, and supported by Recfishwest, which involved jetty owners agreeing to host a hanging shellfish habitat such as natural ropes under their private jetty.  

The fibres of the rope provide an ideal surface for mussel larvae and for maturing mussels to grow on. As more mussels create homes on the new hanging habitats, it leads to more mussel spat in the estuary and helps to revive the once thriving shellfish population. 

The mussels also improve water quality through filtering it and provide an increased high-quality food source and better habitats that supports black bream and other native fish species such as tailor, herring, whiting, flathead and others.  

More mussels mean more fish, which is a win-win for recreational fishers and the water quality of the estuary. 

The naturally occurring fibres from ropes (pictured left) create an ideal surface for mussels to latch on to, leading to an abundance of shellfish (pictured right) and fish species over time.

Steve Pursell, OzFish Program Manager for WA, believes the success of this year’s project underlines what can be achieved when recreational fishers, local communities, and scientists work together.  

“We have been pleased by the numbers of private jetty owners who came forward to be involved – it shows they understand the importance of healthy habitats in our waterways,” he said.  

“Not only do mussels play a key role in filtering and improving the water quality, research shows they once made up 64 per cent of black bream’s diet in the area but that is now as low as 19 per cent. By restoring habitat, our volunteers are helping to create better fishing,” said Steve.  

Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell said, “Estuaries such as those located in the Peel-Harvey region are crucial for providing easy access to great fishing spots and as nursery habitats for key recreational species.  

“Thanks to initiatives like Pimp My Jetty, we not only help restore a valuable food source for fish like black bream, tailor and others, but it also helps improve the water quality and directly benefits the fishing action in the area. 

“The Mandurah estuary is an incredibly unique angling destination for crabbing and yellowfin whiting fishing on surface lures and poppers during the warmer months. Fishers can feel comfortable knowing these kinds of projects will improve these crucial fishing experiences over time.  

“Thanks to all the friendly Peel-Harvey locals who own a jetty and their collaboration with Ozfish, they are helping breathe more life into our estuaries.”  

The Harvey-Peel Estuary in Mandurah has been a much-loved fishing spot for generations and the Pimp My Jetty initiative from Ozfish will help anglers such as Harry Tropiano (pictured right) catch more black bream and other species.

The Pimp My Jetty project is funded by Recfishwest, Navico, the Western Australian Government’s Royalties for Regions program, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing. It is supported by Peel Harvey Catchment Council. 

Find out more about Ozfish’s ‘Pimp My Jetty’ initiative here 

Tender announced for state-of-the-art recfishing-friendly jetty in Esperance

In a great win for recfishers in the Goldfields-Esperance region, the Shire of Esperance has announced a tender to replace the old Tanker Jetty with a state-of-the-art structure with recreational fishing accessibility and features at the heart of its design.

Recfishwest were consulted by Albany-based H+H Architects at key stages throughout the design process and we are pleased to see our input and recommendations appear to have been very much taken on board.

Once built, the 400m long $7.5m jetty will incorporate a number of fishing experience-enhancing features including:

  • A widened modern fishing jetty component which will allow enough space for fishers to fish either side of the gangway;
  • Lower platforms to accommodate fishing and diving access;
  • Fishability ‘set-downs’ to allow people in wheelchairs and scooters to fish easily from the jetty;
  • Jetty-based fish-cleaning station positioned over water;
  • Fish-friendly lighting to fishing areas; and
  • Fisher-friendly railings and built-in fishing seats.
The design concept for the new jetty by H+H Architects featuring many fishing experience-enhancing features.

There was a local community outcry when the 84-year-old jetty was closed in December 2015 due to being in a state of disrepair that left it posing an “extreme risk”.

The jetty had long been an iconic fishing spot and its closure left a big hole in available accessible fishing spots for local fishers and visiting tourists keen on wetting a line.

South East Coast Recreational Fishing Council President Graham Cooper told Recfishwest the Esperance community was pleased the new jetty had taken a step closer to becoming a reality.

“A good, safe fishing platform in Esperance is a must for the local community and tourism – particularly for young fishers as there are limited land-based options in the area,” he said.

Recfishwest support the investment in facilities that make fishing accessible to everyone in the community and we gave our official backing to the Shire to secure funding for the project.

We believe once constructed the new jetty will revive and revitalise a key community fishing hub and help bring valuable dollars to the local economy through bait and tackle sales and tourism.

One potential downside to the design for the new jetty is that at least initially it won’t be as long as the old jetty which gave access to fishers to deeper water and species like Samson fish and tuna.

But the widening of the jetty will allow more fishers access onto the jetty and our understanding is that the design could allow for future extension of the structure.

While there is a way to go yet before the dream of a new Esperance jetty is realised – the announcement of a five-week tender for its construction and the Shire’s commitment to a 10-step plan for the deconstruction of the old jetty and its replacement with a new ýoubeaut’ one is great news for the recfishing community.

The design concept for the new jetty by H+H Architects featuring many fishing experience-enhancing features.

For many decades the old Tanker Jetty provided immense value to generations of recreational fishers from all walks of life, some chasing a feed of herring to enjoy with their family and friends and others endlessly casting stickbaits off the end for that elusive bonito.

It was also enjoyed by divers, snorkelers, walkers and nature enthusiasts, many of the latter which were charmed by the resident sea lion.

With a design that incorporates heritage values and, once built, will incorporate some of the recycled materials from the original jetty, it is hoped the new structure will continue to add to the old Tanker Jetty’s legacy.

Recfishwest will continue to monitor the progress of the project ensuring it moves along to a successful outcome for the fishing community and for the local economy with the dollars that recfishers bring to the town and the region.

Photo credit top banner image: Michele Campbell