Jetty Out On A Limb
Newcastle Herald
Saturday March 3, 2007
THE historic jetty at Catherine Hill Bay is set to be demolished unless money is found to maintain it.
Mining company LakeCoal is in the process of completing a mine closure plan for its mining lease in the area, which includes the jetty. David Jones, who is overseeing the plan, said the jetty was a liability because people trespassed on it to commit vandalism and jumped off it into the water. "If no one else wants to take it over, we will have to demolish it as part of the mine closure plan," he said."LakeCoal has no future requirement for the jetty; we only had it for mining purposes and there's no longer any mining there."Mr Jones said quotes had been obtained to demolish the jetty.He would not reveal the cost, but said it ran into the "millions".Maintaining the jetty would cost about $150,000 a year on average over 10 years.Using the jetty for commercial purposes, such as a restaurant, would be difficult because waves sometimes crashed over it, Mr Jones said.The State Government owns the jetty and will decide its future. The Government's planning, lands and heritage departments are considering the matter.A spokeswoman for Planning Minister Frank Sartor said the jetty should be discussed in the context of any infrastructure contribution that Rosecorp makes with its plan to develop 600 houses at the bay.Rosecorp managing director Bryan Rose said the jetty was not its concern.Catherine Hill Bay Boardriders Club president Mick McCall said the "heritage icon" should be retained.Catherine Hill Bay Progress Association secretary Brian Cogan said the association wants the jetty preserved.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald