Tuesday, 7 February 2023

Warneet jetties

Jordan CRUGNALE (Bass) (19:22): (16) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Ports and Freight, and the action I seek is an update on our $9.5 million election commitment announced to rebuild both north and south jetties in our beautiful coastal village of Warneet.

The collective action of the Save the Warneet Jetties campaign and everyone involved was heard loud and clear. Going back to March 2022, out of iso and with my love of a car boot sale – my first score being a lawnmower – it was actually the Warneet-Blind Bight fire brigade CFA fundraiser that was the drawcard and the opportunity to meet and chat all things local with locals. It is an amazing community, all heart and interwoven with the neighbouring coastal villages, who love and care about where they live and so effortlessly energise together, all to bring about change for the better, never stopping until it is realised.

The story unfolded and unravelled. The Warneet boating precinct developed with two jetties as the community’s priority. I want to thank the minister for coming down and meeting with the local club and committee representatives mid last year. We sat down, walked the precinct, continued to listen and read the room well. From there we had online meetings, many phone calls, visits and doorknocks. I have learned so much about this area, its history, its value and the vitalness of its jetties and appreciate all the work done to date by Better Boating Victoria, the lead agency in developing the precinct plan and all the engagement in tow.

Minister, you have been relentless in your advocacy to get these two jetties funded for a complete rebuild; thank you. We are like two little mosquitoes, buzzing until we get what our community needs and deserves, and we got there.

Fast forward to 5 November, when the Deputy Premier came to Warneet and we announced that a re-elected Andrews Labor government would invest $16.7 million in jetties, boat ramps and car park upgrades in Bass. Warneet would get a magnificent $5.9 million to rebuild both jetties, and the remainder was for upgrades to Lang Lang, Tooradin, Inverloch and a jetty expansion in Cowes. The crowd kind of went quiet, and then it went wild.

A big, massive cheer to the Save the Warneet Jetties crew – what a collective campaign – and to the committee and members from Warneet Motor Yacht Club, Warneet North Boat Club, Warneet Foreshore Committee of Management, Warneet South Slipway club, the local businesses and services and all who I met with who attended meetings along the way.

Also to everyone that spoke to the jetties and their value, from Warneet’s Craig on the corner, Sally in Pearcedale and Lawrence and Paula in the car park outside Tooradin FoodWorks to Patricia and her friends at the Cannons Creek Crop Swap that Zorza, a magnificent gem, organises and the stallholders at the fabulous Pearcedale market, just to mention a few: great things happen when we walk side by side with community.

Thank you, Minister, and we welcome you at any time to Warneet, Western Port and the electorate of Bass. I look forward to relaying your update to this wonderful community. Let us get this done.