Busselton Jetty Inc. Commits Over $1.3 Million to Preserve Iconic Western Australian Asset

Drawing more than 700,000 visitors to the Busselton Jetty in the past year has resulted in a record $1.3 million being set aside for maintenance of the local attraction.

Busselton Jetty Inc will allocate the record amount to the maintenance reserve for the jetty, which has an ongoing annual upkeep of about $1.5m.

BJI contributes 25 per cent of ticket sales to maintenance, which reduces the cost to Busselton ratepayers and requires less financial support from the State Government to ensure the jetty is maintained.

BJI chair Dr Natasha Teakle presented a cheque for $733,327 to Mayor Phill Cronin last week, with the rest of the $1.3m allocation to be paid in June.

Dr Teakle said the contribution reflected BJI’s dedication to the long-term sustainability of the heritage-listed jetty and reinforced the business model whereby tourists paid for a State asset.

Jetty CEO Lisa Shreeve expressed her enthusiasm about the organisation’s commitment to supporting the jetty, but also being the catalyst to bringing visitors from around the world to spend money in the community at local businesses.

“Our contribution of over $1.3m is a testament to people’s love of the jetty as a bucket-list attraction, but also the town’s greatest community recreation facility, with over 700,000 visitors a year,” she said.

Since the establishment of the jetty maintenance reserve, BJI has contributed almost $8m to the structure’s upkeep.