Push to replace jetty

By Elizabeth Lillis
EFFORTS to ensure the future of a fishing facility at Lang Lang have stepped up with local politicians and campaigners pledging to find a way to have the jetty replaced.
The Lang Lang jetty, which sits just on the Bass Coast Shire side of the boundary of Cardinia and Bass Coast shires in Western Port, has been closed since June 2004.
Safety concerns and the poor condition of the structure lead to its closure and listing for removal.
The jetty is the responsibility of Parks Victoria.
Bass Coast Shire Council resolved at its meeting on Monday, 5 March to have its chief executive officer write to Environment Minister John Thwaites requesting funds be allocated the replace the Lang Lang jetty with a static fishing platform.
Bass Coast Shire councillor Veronica Dowman said the local area had very little infrastructure and that it did not seem fair there were no definite plans to replace the jetty.
Cardinia Shire councillor Doug Hamilton said a recent study of the disadvantage had highlighted the 3984 postcode, in which the jetty is located, as being in top 10 most disadvantaged areas in the Victoria.
“The State should be ensuring infrastructure in the area not removing it and not replacing it,” he said.
Eastern Victoria MP Peter Hall said he would support efforts by the Lang Lang Foreshore Committee, with support from local councils, to access a State Government Community Support Fund grant to rebuild the jetty.
Save the Lang Lang Jetty Campaign spokesman Jack Dyt said most people were resigned to the fact that the jetty needed to be demolished and all the community wanted was a commitment and a timeline for a replacement to be built.
Unsuccessful efforts to obtain funding from the Boating Safety and Facilities Program and Recreational Fishing Grant Program were made last year by Parks Victoria and the Lang Lang Foreshore Committee.
Mr Dyt said efforts would continue to seek funding other sources of funding, from both State and Federal Government, to replace the jetty.
A Parks Victoria spokesman confirmed the jetty, which was built in 1956, is to be demolished later this year.