Latest Updates

We are delighted to report the tender process has completed and tenders have been awarded.  There is an excellent update from Parks Victoria on the project here     

Simpson Construction has been appointed as lead construction partners and work is expected to commence in the summer of 2025.

The new jetties will feature accessible gangways, low-level landings, and more berthing space.

Warneet South Jetty

- Steel piles

- 2.6m wide timber deck

- Existing pontoon + gangway retained.

- Hand rails + lighting

Warneet North Jetty

- Steel piles

- 1.8 m wide fibreglass reinforced plastic deck

- 2 new low-level landings

- Handrails + lighting.

This project is Labor’s election commitment being delivered and it is all part of of a $46M investment in piers and jetties in the 23/24 budget.   The official press release can be found here>>

Once again we thank all parties for the progress to date and especially Jordan Crugnale our local MP who has continued provide her support and be  our first point of contact between the government, Parks Victoria and Better Boating Victoria - as she promised.

The deadline for tender submission has now passed.  There is an excellent update from Parks Victoria on the project here     

Parks Victoria and Jordan Crugnale hosted a presentation of the final plans late April 2024.  The community is anxious to see how the designs will be influenced following the selection of the contractor and the feedback provided  at the presentation.  Its good news and there is a real sense of relief that the jetties will soon be open again for all to use.

Once again we thank all parties for the progress to date and especially Jordan Crugnale our local MP who has continued provide her support and be  our first point of contact between the government, Parks Victoria and Better Boating Victoria - as she promised.

Since the budget allocation  back in May we have had an opportunity to share our ideas as a group on the proposed design with Better Boating Victoria representatives via online meetings and a site visit that occurred during April.  All went fairly quiet from then on until Mid October when notice of release of the tender documents was published on the Victorian State Government tender site  here https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tender/view?id=258331  it was initially posted to provide one months notice of issuance of tender ending mid November but was recently updated to provide notice until 25th March 2024.  We believe this is to provide more time for design refinement and to fit in better with contractors given the impending Christmas period.    Very recently the project was officially published on the Parks Victoria website here.

Once again we thank all parties for the progress to date and especially Jordan Crugnale our local MP who has continued provide her support and be  our first point of contact between the government, Parks Victoria and Better Boating Victoria - as she promised.

Today  the State Government announced in the May budget allocation $9.5 million funding for the rebuilding of the North and South Jetties as promised.  This is a major milestone for the Save Warneet Jetties campaign.  A snippet of the press realease from Jordna Crugnale's office is below or click here to view the full press release.

In November 2022 a pledge was made by Jacinta Allen and Jordan Crugnale on behalf of the subsequently elected State Labor Government of Victoria to provide $9.5 million to rebuild the North and South Jetties in Warneet.  The aim was to incorporate the building of the jetties with the proposed ramp and boat launching facilities upgrade in the Warneet Precinct Plan developed by Better Boating Victoria (BBV).  The funds to rebuild the jetty will be considered in the May 2023 budget allocation.  So what is the progress to date?

• We have not yet reached the May budget allocation date.  Our local MP Jordan Crugnale has kept us up to date with progress on this and we are advised that all is in order at this stage for the funding to be provided as promised.  All relevant Ministers are on board and we know of no issues that could prevent the funds being made available.

• BBV have been pushing forward with boat ramp and car park designs and due diligence as a part of the precinct plan.  They have included due diligence and design work for the North and South jetties as a part of that work.  BBV have recently updated, involved and invited feedback from the local and wider community via the various associated groups and clubs to inform the final designs with a view to getting the best outcome for all within the time and budgetary constraints.

• Broadly speaking we know at this stage that the South Jetty will be of concrete construction, it will be 3.6m wide extending out to the Warneet channel and will be capable of vehicular access.  The jetty will be Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant. The plan includes  a floating pontoon at the end of the jetty for mooring vessels.

• The North Jetty will be of timber construction and will be virtually a replica of the existing jetty except that it will be 3m wide and it will extend out further towards the channel.

• The existing boat ramp is to be extended by approximately 25m and the car park will be extended and upgraded with a combination of tarmac and permeable surfaces with due consideration to storm water drainage and the natural aesthetics of the area.

• Other elements are being progressed .

• We understand that once the jetty designs have been finalised by BBV, Parks Victoria will then get involved with the tendering process and planning and other permissions required prior to construction.

• We do not have firm timescales at this stage but we understand that the intention is still to move forward as quickly as possible after budget allocation.  BBV is progressing the approvals for the "non jetty" elements of the precinct plan, particularly the pontoon extension as a priority.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jordan Crugnale MP, Katherine Grech and her team at Better Boating Victoria and Parks Victoria once again for their hard work on this project to date.  It gives us comfort and a degree of optimism that, with their continued support, the jetties will soon be open to the public again.

*(please see here who Save Warneet Jetties are: https://www.savewarneetjetties.com/who-are-we) 

Further information: Contact Richard Wagstaff info@savewarneetjetties.com

Save Warneet Jetties - Media Release

Response to Labor announcement to provide $9.5 million to rebuild South and North Warneet jetties

Save Warneet Jetties* welcomed the announcement by Jacinta Allan and Jordan Crugnale on Saturday 5th of November that the Victorian Labor Party would provide $9.5 million to finance the rebuilding of the North and South Warneet Jetties if re-elected in this upcoming November election..

In particular we would like to emphasise the following:

1. We thank Jordan and greatly appreciate all the work she has done on this especially for hearing our concerns for over 2 years and making the effort to understand the issue from her constituents' perspective.

2. We also thank Jacinta and Jordan for taking the time on Saturday to come to Warneet and deliver the news in person and to be receptive to the feedback from the various groups affected by the jetty closure.  (See the announcement and feedback here https://www.savewarneetjetties.com/latest-updates)

3. We note that there is a desire to get this project completed as soon as possible.  Work will commence immediately to finalise and disseminate tender documents if Labor win the election on the 26th November.  An allocation will be made in the May 2023 budget of $9.5 million to finance the works with a view to completing the project as soon as possible.  We appreciate that even with the very best intent of all involved it could be years before the North and South Jetties are re-built but look forward to receiving more specifics on timescales when that information becomes available.

4. We are relieved that Jordan and Jacinta have recognised risk of personal injury and safety issues whilst the South Jetty, in particular, is closed and we thank them for agreeing to take this matter back for discussion with the relevant authorities with a view to finding an interim solution to provide access to land at all states of tides as soon as possible.

5. We understand that, although the official Labor media press release does not include Warneet amongst the list of projects that are a part of its "Better Boating Fund infrastructure upgrade", the media release is currently being updated to reflect this very recent announcement.

6. Better Boating Victoria (BBV) have informed us that the Warneet Precinct Plan is currently in the "engineers design drawing phase" which is due to be completed by the end of this year.  We are informed by Jordan Crugnale MP that the figure of $9.5 million has been provided by BBV and presume therefore that the design drawing phase is sufficiently advanced to inform an approximate budget for the project.  At this stage we have nothing to this effect from BBV or Parks Victoria and have no confirmation of what the precinct plan will actually include.

In conclusion, we are delighted to be a step closer to having the jetties open again, but a lot needs to happen between now and then, not least of which is a Labor victory in the upcoming election.

*(please see here who Save Warneet Jetties are: https://www.savewarneetjetties.com/who-are-we) 

Further information: Contact Richard Wagstaff info@savewarneetjetties.com

Members of all three yacht clubs and residents of Warneet  gathered by the South Jetty today for a meeting with Jacinta Allan, Deputy Premier and  Jordan Crugnale, Labor MP for Bass.  The announcement was that, if re-elected in the upcoming state election, Labour would allocate $9.5 million in the May 2023 budget to finance the rebuild of both North and South Jetties. The designes have been part of the overall Warneet Boating Precinct Plan  developed by lead agency BBV with Parks Victoria.  The announcement was welcomed by all and is a very positive step towards a long term solution for the jetty closures in Warneet. 

When asked about timescales Jacinta Allan stated that they were wanting to get the project underway  immediately .   If re-elected, the funds would be released in the first budget being May 2023 however work to finalise the designs to construction stage and getting the tender documents finalised and tender process underway would begin straight away.

Attendees expressed the thanks and appreciation for the commitment made by the Labor Government  but re-emphasised their concerns regarding safety for all with both jetties being closed in the interim period between now and completion of the precinct plan which could be some years.  Jacinta and Jordan said they would take this up seperately with Parks Victoria. 

Members of the Warneet Foreshore Committee, Warneet Motor Yacht Club and Warneet North Boat Club outlined a suggestion for an interim solution and expressed their desire to work pro actively with Parks Victoria and Better Boating Victoria to develop an interim solution that would dovetail with the building of the new jetties if the precinct plan project receives go ahead approval.

Watch the video below for the full announcement. (16mins)

We are very pleased to advise that Parks Victoria have accepted our request under the Freedom of Information Act to provide information regarding the following:

“1. Engineers reports prepared within the last 2 years [25 September 2020 – 25 September 2022] relating the structural  conditions of the North and South jetties at Warneet, including draft reports that have been finalised by the engineers but not released .

2. Construction plans relating to the construction of the south jetty during the period 1993/1995

3. Documents that set out the current powers, duties and responsibilities of the Regional Director, Southern and Maritime”.

We have asked for this information with a view to getting an understanding of exactly what is wrong with the South Jetty and to assess the possibility of repairing the jetty as a short term/interim solution whilst the Precinct Plan and/or other long term solution is being worked on.  This is important because the safety of the public is at risk whilst there is no access to land at all states of tide from a platform properly aligned with the tidal flow which the  South Jetty provided.  We have also requested documents on the North Jetty for similar reasons in the event the precinct plan is many years away. 

We thank Parks Victoria in advance for sharing this information which we hope will answer questions and dispel some of the concerns of the local community and help reassure all key stakeholders that we are on the best and fastest possible route to a satisfactory solution for all.

We are expecting to receive the documents by the 22nd November 2022.

The issue of closure of the Warneet Jetties hits the press again with an article in StarNews which outlines the concerns expressed by Alex Stroud, Commodore of the Warneet Motor Yacht Club on behalf of the local community and comments on the matter from  local MP Jordan Crugnale, Liberal Candidate for Bass Aaron Brown and Independent candidate for Bass Jeni Jobe.  See the full article here.