Saved! Jetty battle gets a win

A community group fighting to save the much-loved Newhaven Jetty is celebrating after the State Government announced the jetty would be restored, repaired and reopened.

Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale this week confirmed $5.5 million in funding through Better Boating Victoria to repair the jetty.

"We know how important the jetty is to the local community and I'm thrilled to announce funding to begin the process of renewing access for boating and fishing," Ms Crugnale said.

"Reopening this facility will support local tourism, recreational fishing and boating while preserving the character of Phillip Island's iconic waterfront."

Ben Dennis, whose restaurant is located next to the jetty, is one of the locals who led the campaign to have the jetty reopened.

"We are very happy to see it moving forward," Ben said of the announcement the jetty would be repaired.

He also thanked Amanda Keilar, a passionate local fisher, for her advocacy and "amazing support".

"She's been the backbone of this whole movement and the driving force.

"We appreciate Jordan's involvement and the pressure Melina Bath (Nationals MP) put on the government.

"We look forward to being part of the (rebuilding) process and having some local input into the design."

He also thanked the local community who supported the campaign.

Amanda Keilar said she was "beyond stoked that the community gets to retain its asset and see it reopen".

"I'm grateful to the Newhaven residents for the pressure they've put on the government."

Back in September, Amanda told the Advertiser she believed the cost to fix the Newhaven Jetty would be "a lot less than the government expected", and called for the government to release the details of inspections undertaken on the jetty.

At the time, she vowed to continue "rattling the cages", saying "we're not going to just sit down and watch it fall into the ocean".

Nationals MP Melina Bath described the government's "backflip on the permanent closure" of the jetty" as a hard-won victory, "driven by unwavering community leadership and persistent political advocacy by The Nationals".

She congratulated everyone involved in the campaign, particularly Amanda and Ben and the Newhaven residents for their "tireless campaigning".

"Newhaven Jetty should never have been closed without notice or consultation," Ms Bath said.

"Our outdoor recreation assets are vital to local communities and the visitor economy, and their maintenance must be treated as a priority, not an afterthought.

"My focus now turns to ensuring the delivery of this project is prioritised for locals. The people of Newhaven deserve a jetty that is safe, accessible and maintained for generations to come."

Impact

Back in November 2024, Ben spoke to the Advertiser of his "deep frustration" at the closure of the Newhaven Jetty and the severe impact it had on his business.

"Our venue, cherished for weddings, functions and community gatherings relies heavily on the jetty's aesthetics and accessibility as a drawcard," Ben said.

"Since the partial closure in 2018 and now its complete shutdown with locked gates barring entry, we have experienced a sharp decline in bookings, particularly for weddings where the jetty is central to the experience."

This week, he confirmed that after being closed for some maintenance, the restaurant was due to reopen next week.

Beyond the impact on his restaurant, Ben said he witnessed firsthand the disappointment of recreational fishers who arrive at the jetty on a daily basis, only to find locked gates.

Designs

Ms Crugnale said structural inspections of the T-shaped jetty have been undertaken since its closure and this will inform the drafting of the detailed designs and approvals needed before construction can take place.

She said the jetty's lower landing would be rebuilt to make it easier to hop on or off boats, with room for three to four vessels to be tied up at a time.

There will also be new cleats and ladders on the lower landing.

The broader jetty structure will have new solar lighting and fendering to protect boats while moored.

Assessments of the current jetty have recommended replacement of timber decking, capping and beams, remediating the tops of wooden piles and restoring full pedestrian access.

Ms Crugnale said funding for the project was part of the 2025/26 Recreational Boating Action Plan.

The design work and approvals will be managed by the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA), working with Parks Victoria and local user groups.

It's expected the design work will begin later this year or early in 2026.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank locals Amanda Keilar, Saltwater's Ben Dennis, Lisa Webster, the Newhaven Residents Group for leading the advocacy to repair and reopen this much-loved community asset," Ms Crugnale said.