Accesss to land at any state of tide (Safety for Boating) - this is possibly the most important function of the jetties. and particularly the South Jetty. It is vital that vessels can access the land at any state of tide in case of medical emergency, mechanical failure, bad weather or if the tide is preventing access to the boat ramps for trailable vessels. Tidal flow can by in excess of 5 knots in the estuary. The channel is narrow and boating traffic is often considerable. This makes for difficult conditions if a vessel has a problem. Any boating person will agree how quickly a slight problem can become a disaster at sea. In such circumstances the ability to tie up to the pontoon at the end of the South Jetty which can be accessed at any state of tide is the safe and sensible thing to do. Unfortuantely that is no longer possible and it is only a matter of time till damage and peronal injury occurs as a result.
Access to board and load/unload vessels (Safety for Boating) - For the vessels moored in the estuary (up to 90) and also for trailable vessels using the ramp on busy days the South and North Jettys provide a platform for people to board, and for loading and unloading, fueling. With the jetties closed the only option for deeper draft vessels is to ferry people and gear by dinghy - this is totally inefficient and a recipe for trouble as boaters struggle to get people and goods in and out of a small vessel, especially when the tidal flow is strong. For shallower draft vessels, they may be able to use the boat ramps, but on busy days this will cause chaos at the ramps as there is no time really for any activity other than launching and retrieving as other boats wait in the fast flowing waters of the channel. Again this is a disaster waiting to happen which could cause personal injury and environmental pollution if items are accidently dropped into the water during transit.
Access for the elderly and impaired (Accessibility and Safety for all ) - For an elderly or impaired person to have a trip down the estuary and into Westernport Bay on a pleasant day out with friends and family there IS NO OPTION but to have access to board the vessel via the South or North Jetty for vessels that cannot access land via the boat ramps. The closure of the jetties alienates people who are not sufficient able bodied to travel in a small dinghy and climb up into a moored vessel. Again this is a recipe for disaster in "marginal" situations where access by dinghy is attempted when normally, with the jetties open, it would not be considered.
Access for Emergency rescue (Saving Lives) - There have been numerous occasions when the emergency services have used the South Jetty to connect with land based services - for example the Coast Guard has used the jetty to connect with the Ambulance service in order to get people to hospital as quickly as possible. The extra time required to get to an alternative but further away jetty or pier with land access could be the difference between life and death.
Fire Escape (Saving Lives) - Warneet has just the one road for entry and exit. In the case of bushfire, as we have seen in the recent terrible bushfires around Mallacouta - it was necessary for residents to take refuge on the pier and be evacuated by boat. The likelihood of a similar situation occurring in Warneet is , unfortunately, increasing as we see more extreme weather conditions every month all over the world. Warneet is a fire risk area, in times of unprecedented bushfire events with no fire escape alternative now that the South Jetty has been closed.
A platform for land based fishers (Fishing and Leisure) - With the both jetties closed there is no longer a facility for land based fishers. This is an activity undertaken by thousands, a healthy pastime for the mind and body and for those who may not be able to afford or manage a fishing vessel. This is bad for Victorians, not just the local community, as people come from far and wide to fish from the Jetties.
Many local businesses are threatened by the closure of the jetties (Economic) - Fishing Charters have operated out of Warneet for over 20 years, they use the South Jetty for passenger access. Al's Fishing Charters, previously, Warneet and Classic Fishing Charters has been rendered unable to operate literally overnight with no warning from the authorities. The Warneet General Store, Als Bait Shop and the Boat Hire Cafe are obvious examples and the impact cannot be trivialised or underestimated. The closure of the jetties will reduce the flow of people to the area especially as they come to realise that the facilities are now inadequate for boating and fishing. But it goes beyond this, the Victorian Government have identified that Boating is a growth sector and forecasts are the activity will increase and vessels will get larger into the future. In addition they have identified and acknowledge that fishing is the most popular sport in Australia and is growing and a target has been set to encourage 1 million fishers in the state of Victoria and that both Boating and Fishing should be encouraged to generate economic activity. On the other hand the government is allow the infrastructure (jetties, piers, navigation markers through Port Phillip and Westernport) to fall into disrepair and ultimately be decommissioned.
Inability for Commercial Charter to operate (Economic) - Commercial boat Charter for fishing, bird watching, diving, environmental research etc. are not possible without the South Jetty to provide safe access for boarding and disembarking and safe refuge should the weather turn bad. There is a commercial vessel in the estuary now turning away bookings and not employing crew. Trips are not happening as a result of the jetty closure.
Safe execution of slipway activity (Safety for Boating)(Economic) - There are 3 slipways in Warneet , all in very sheltered waters and there are two working boatyards - this makes it an excellent place for boat maintenance and repair for non trailable vessels. The normal routine is that a boat to be slipped will pick up workers from the pier to help position the boat on the trolley which has been lowered into the water by the winch operator. When the boat is in position the operator winches the vessel out of the water and manoeuvred into the yard on the trolley. This is an intricate process requiring skill and co-ordination. It should not be complicated by requiring workers to be ferried to the vessel to be slipped by dinghy. As well as the safety aspect there is an economic implication here - if the infrastructure for the boatyards is not adequate the boatyards will become unviable thereby taking jobs away from the area.
Sailing and Fishing Clubs (Economic and Social) - There are three sailing/boating clubs in Warneet. The is also a fishing club that meets regularly at the Warneet North Boat Club. All these clubs require access to and from the land at all states of tide for various reasons many of which are also covered here. The Warneet Motor Yacht Club has amongst its sailing events the annual WAFIR (Warneet around French Island Race) which has been an annual event for many years and is well known in sailing circles. Most of these sailing events and especially the WAFIR race attracts entrants from all over Victoria. At one time there were as many as 200 entrants to the race. It is vital that the Warneet Clubs can offer mooring facilities with access to land for visiting yachts during race events and cruising/social events. Being able to host a yacht from another yacht club is fundamental and this is something we are no longer able to do without the jetties. Running events like WAFIR brings many visitors to the area and so there is also an Economic implication here.
Boat maintenance (Safety for Boating) - Regular maintenance and occasional repairs are critical for any vessel to be kept in a seaworthy condition. The maintenance require access to stable platform, or for contractors to be able to access the boat at sometime in the day to suit their schedule , it may require lifting of heavy goods onto or off the vessel. All this requires access to and from the land at any state of tide - often just for a short period of time, but again it is critical that access to the land for short term maintenance operations where slipping is not practical or possible. Obviously if appropriate maintenance is not being undertaken, or if people are sturgging to perform such activities from a dinghy - an accident is waiting to happen.
Taking Up (Economic) - The Warneet Estuary is home to many and varied traditional wooden boats some nearly 100 years old, all with their own history and character. These are part of the heritage of Westernport and Port Phillip. When a wooden boat is slipped for maintenance its timbers dry out and gaps form between them. When the boat is relaunched it will sink - this is normal. It is necessary to "nurse" a wooden boat back into the water while its timbers swell and the boat becomes water tight again. This process is called "taking up" and both jetties but particularly the North Jetty are ideal platforms for this. Boats can be left moored to the more sheltered shallow waters of the North Jetty - they can be accessed and pumped out periodically from the jetty. Without the jetties there is NO facility for taking up - this renders both boat yards unviable for maintenance projects on wooden boats - they will have to go elsewhere or worse they will be left without being properly maintained.
Activity for the young (Mental Health and Social) - When the jetties were open, youngsters playing, fishing and swimming from the jetties on weekends and after school at all times of the year was a very common sight. A healthy activity, away from computer games and devices, that helps a youngster use their imagination and learn about nature is a very valuable thing indeed. Warneet has a limited offering for youngsters in terms of social activity and with only 4 buses per day going elsewhere independently is not easy. As a community we want to do everything possible to help the young people of Warneet to engage in healthy and constructive activity - the closure of the jetties will have a profound impact on their health and wellbeing.
Safe Swimming (Accessibility and Safety for all ) - The Warneet estuary is a great place to swim, the water is calm and warm in the summer. There are two things to watch though - when the tide is running fast it can be dangerous and the waters edge is often muddy before and after high tide which can be dangerous for people not so steady on their feet. The North Warneet jetty's location is no coincidence. It is in an area very sheltered from tidal flow and it provides a platform for people to access the water without the risk of getting stuck and falling over in the mud. Once again, by closing the jetties, and in this case particularly the North jetty, the authorities have made swimming in the estuary less safe and more difficult for all to access.
Residents and Tourists - (Mental Health and Social) - There are piers and jetties all over the world and for some reason people walk out on them. Take St Kilda pier or Rye pier for example, people who visit seem compelled to promenade. Warneet's jetties are no different, whether you are just walking or maybe fishing they are a place to clear one's head. Being on top of the water seems to allow a different perspective both physically and mentally. This is enjoyed not just by all Warneetians but by all those who visit - that's people from the neighbouring coastal villages of Blind Bight and Cannons Creek, people from the Shire of Casey and Bass and people who come from all over Victoria to fish, sail and enjoy the peace and natural beauty that is here. These are your jetties, they are our jetties and we want them back.