Jetty length rivalry- Busselton Dunsborough Mail

"Well length is very important,” Busselton shire president Ian Stubbs said.

He was of course referring to jetties! – Busselton’s and one in Port Germein, South Australia.

As the sign shows the small seaside town, near Port Pirie, claims to have Australia’s longest timber jetty.

It is 1532m long. However, Busselton’s is 1841m (well when the last section, gets a new deck, which was supposed to have been completed with the rest of the jetty until the contractor Marine and Civil went into voluntary administration in November. But it’s coming.)

Busselton’s has long been known as the longest timber jetty in the southern hemisphere, not just Oz.

"Now let’s just get a few technicalities out of the way before we wade into this debate,” Cr Stubbs said.

"They may say we have some concrete and steel in ours. But has theirs ever been devastated by a cyclone and fire? Not that I’m wishing it on them. Ours is the longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. But we are talking about length here.

"I’d say we probably still have more timber in our jetty than they in theirs, which also has steel in it.

"Our railings are timber and I notice theirs are metal.

"Sometimes you need to make that little extra effort to ensure you retain something you cherish – and ours is heritage listed!”

Vasse MLA Troy Buswell, who was a key factor in the State Government forking out $24 million to help rebuild the jetty because of previous damage by the elements, dismissed the claim by Port Germein.

"They don’t measure up. Clearly our jetty is superior, as are most West Australian things when compared to South Australian and the people making this claim would appear to be a couple of planks short of a full jetty. I know ours is longer than theirs because Ian Stubbs told me so and I wouldn’t disbelieve him for a second!”

But the Croweaters are having none of this.

The mayor of the District Council of Mount Remarkable, Sandra Wauchope, has taken the stick, well ruler, to Busselton’s claims, helped by some hometown spin.

Local paper, The Recorder, has weighed into the dispute, claiming Australia’s longest wooden jetty has come under threat from the "upstart tourist town of Busselton”.

"Busselton’s jetty re-opening fiesta and fireworks display was attended by 10,000 people, including Premier Colin Barnett and singer Kate Ceberano,” it said.

"But all the pomp and circumstance may have been for nothing – their jetty reportedly contains concrete and steel, rendering it useless for comparison purposes.

"It is also crooked. "Could they not have built a straight one?”

Cr Wauchope said Busselton’s allegations were bogus.

"What an outrageous claim! The first section is concrete, so I do not find it attractive or historic. If you are going to alter things, you cannot claim it is the longest wooden jetty!”

She also noted that Port Germein’s jetty had proven its durability in the 77 years since most shipping ceased.

"Busselton’s was still a commercial jetty until 1971,” she said.

"We have got a beautiful historic jetty here, just as it was in its heyday. We are claiming originality.”

Cr Wauchope did not rule out a future extension to Port Germein’s jetty if it was necessary to settle the debate once and for all – "never say die”. But she was satisfied that it was already the superior structure.

"Until Busselton can come up with a better claim, Port Germein will not give it an inch.”

But the ‘remarkable’ council’s community and economic development manager Muriel Scholz has taken a softer approach after some initial strident comments. While admitting theirs was shorter, she had visited Busselton’s, but was not impressed as it was closed. It sparked an invitation from Cr Stubbs.

"Come again Muriel. It’s not only open but we can entertain you with a train ride out to the underwater observatory.”

A diplomatic Muriel told the Mail they didn’t want to start a war.

"Maybe we could become "sister jetties?” she suggested.