Port Germein Jetty

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:27): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister provide the house with an update on what action the South Australian government is taking to repair the damage to the Port Germein jetty caused by last week's king tide and damaging wind gusts? Thank you for the fine work on Henley jetty.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:28): Can I thank the member for Colton for the question and also his interest in preserving and maintaining jetties across the South Australian coastline. As we are all aware, South Australia is blessed with many, many kilometres of pristine coastal and inland shorelines, many of which are serviced by important marine infrastructure, such as jetties, that South Australians love to enjoy.

Last week's significant storm event, king tide and wind gusts forced the closure of jetties across our coastline. Fortunately, most of our jetties only suffered minor damage with most reopening very quickly, mostly the next day, after being inspected by engineers and a quick response from contractors and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure staff. Unfortunately, though, the heritage listed and longest jetty that we have in the state, in the member for Stuart's electorate, the Port Germein jetty, as well as the Moonta jetty, suffered more significant damage.

The level of damage at the Port Germein jetty is quite severe. The jetty is a little over 1,200 metres long, I think, and is certainly the longest jetty that we have in South Australia. The damage appears to be mostly confined to a span of about 60 metres approximately halfway down the length of the jetty. It will require extensive repairs, including the replacement of some girders, decking and handrailing, and I am advised that the expected costs are likely to be somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000 to complete them. I am advised by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure that the supporting piles and crossheads (i.e. the supporting jetty frame) has, fortunately, been found to be in sound condition.

I am pleased to announce that the state government will work in collaboration with the District Council of Mount Remarkable to ensure these repairs are made as quickly as possible so that the jetty can be reopened to the public and the local community as soon as possible. We estimate that the repairs are expected to be completed within eight weeks and, as we have done with other jetty works around the state, we will be engaging a South Australian company to complete this work.

I would also like to advise the house that the Moonta Bay jetty, as I mentioned earlier, also received some significant damage and is currently closed. Both the council and the department are undertaking works to repair the damage to both the jetty and the council's swimming enclosure platform. I am pleased to advise the house that this jetty will be reopened to the public in approximately two weeks, weather permitting and depending on the progress of the works. However, the council's swimming enclosure may take a little more time to repair.

Mr Griffiths: What about Wallaroo?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I don't have those details for the member for Goyder, but I will provide those to him. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff from the department (in particular, those working in our marine section) and the staff from local councils with jetties in their areas, who worked very quickly and sometimes tirelessly to inspect, temporarily shut where necessary, and facilitate the repairs to many of the jetties which were damaged as a result of this storm event.

I would also like to acknowledge the member for Colton, who asked me this question, and also the Labor candidate for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas, for their advocacy in ensuring that the damage sustained by the Henley jetty was promptly inspected—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —including by me, the member for Colton and the Labor candidate for Hindmarsh, Mr Steve Georganas—a much-missed advocate on behalf of the western suburbs. Through those actions, the quick inspection has enabled works to be facilitated and expedited. We inspected the jetty last Wednesday, I think it was—a week ago.

I think we can all agree that our jetties are important pieces of recreational and tourism infrastructure, not only for our metropolitan coastline but also for many of our regional towns. I believe it is vital that we continue to maintain and appreciate these very important structures.