Geraldton councillors concerned over political input for jetty as city urged to seek funding before building

Councillors have expressed concerns candidates vying for State and Federal government seats in Geraldton could use the proposed jetty to win votes.

As debate waged in council chambers on Tuesday night, two of Geraldton’s confirmed election candidates — Nationals’ Kirrilee Warr and Liberals’ Tim Milnes — sat in the public gallery.

A $50,000 business case into the jetty indicated building one in one of three locations in Beresford or Geraldton would cost between $12m and $24m.

A 125m jetty has been proposed at the southern end of Midalia’s Beach or at the Durlacher Street rock groyne at Town Beach near Dome Cafe.

Meanwhile a third jetty proposal would see the groynes at Midalia’s Beach connected with a walkway, before a 125m jetty extended out to sea in the middle.

Council was set to discuss whether to receive the business case, undertake detailed modelling and cost implications to fund the options put forward, and investigate the appetite for financial support.

Cr Aaron Horsman moved to amend the motion, proposing council defer the item until April, and put forward a copy of the business case to Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton and Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price to get their positions on whether funding would be considered.

He said there was an opportunity to lobby governments for support, as they had done for other projects.

“Nothing good ever comes easy, and anything that is easy usually isn’t good,” he said.

“I ask that councillors give the jetty project the same opportunity to explore early grant funding.”

Ms Price had been an advocate for a Geraldton jetty, and spoke about the proposal in Parliament on Monday.

She said amid recent expansion in the area there was “an opportunity and a responsibility to invest in infrastructure that will enhance both the lifestyle of our residents and the appeal of our city as a destination”.

Ms Dalton recently told The Geraldton Guardian she was keen to see the results of the business case.

Cr Jennifer Critch suggested all local election candidates should be gauged, not just incumbents, which Cr Horsman agreed to.

Chief executive Ross McKim confirmed funding from bodies other than governments could also be considered.

Cr Peter Fiorenza spoke for the motion, saying the process would ensure no stone was left unturned.

He said politicians were in “election mode” and was sceptical of the support, but said the city needed a buy-in to know if money was available.

Cr Victor Tanti was against the motion, saying modelling for financial capacity would be an expensive exercise in time and money.

Meanwhile, Cr Kim Parker also spoke against, saying although he would love a jetty, he was doubtful any political party would put a figure on it, but would “promise anything”.

However, Cr Horsman concluded by saying funding could be sourced through the period of “political jousting”.

Councillors voted seven votes to three in favour of the amended motion, which will see Mr McKim write to all the Geraldton and Durack candidates to gauge their interest in backing funding for a jetty.