The Shire of Busselton in the southwest of Western Australia was in the spotlight this summer, with the long awaited reopening of the refurbished Busselton Jetty on 6 February.
Stretching 1.8 kilometres across Geographe Bay, Busselton jetty is the longest timber piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. It is appreciated for its underwater observatory, jetty train and myriad of recreational uses.
Officially opened by Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett, the event attracted State and national attention and has helped cement Busselton as the emerging event capital of the South West.
In what was this ShireÃs biggest ever community event, an estimated 10,000 residents and visitors flocked to the foreshore to join in the celebration that culminated in a magnificent fireworks show illuminating the iconic jetty.
Busselton jetty had been closed to the public since May 2009, during which time it underwent a $27 million refurbishment program funded mostly by the Western Australian Government.
Now with most of the work done, the Jetty is open to the public, with the Underwater Observatory attracting many visitors and the train running again. New features include interpretive nodes and fish cleaning bays, swimming and diving platforms, rain shelters and heritage sculptures.
ìThe jetty refurbishment is the biggest project the Shire has ever undertaken,î said Busselton Shire President Ian Stubbs. ìItÃs been a long haul, and certainly not without its challenges, but it looks magnificent and I am very proud of the way the community came together to celebrate this special occasion.î
The newly restored Busselton Jetty is the centrepiece of a major foreshore upgrade that will see the popular area transformed for the enjoyment of people of all ages.
