Work underway to dismantle old Mersey Pt timber jetty

Work to dismantle the old Mersey Point timber jetty is underway.

Marine civil contractor SMC Marine began the job of removing the damaged jetty yesterday after being tasked with the job by City of Rockingham.

The jetty, which was long used to help passengers board ferries to Penguin Island, recently suffered significant structural damage during bad weather and was permanently closed to the public.

However, the fate of the jetty had long been sealed prior to this year’s winter storms, with an investigation from the City in September 2014 identifying the jetty was near the end of its life.

Mayor Barry Sammels said this investigation, combined with the build-up of sediment around the jetty that posed a risk to users, meant the City had no choice but to look to the future and build the new Mersey Point jetty.

“The Mersey Point timber jetty has been a key part of our coastline for many years, with thousands lining up on the jetty to visit Penguin Island,” Mr Sammels said.

“While SMC Marine will oversee the removal of the jetty, parts of it will live on as some of the piles and timbers will be retained by the City and reused for interpretive art projects. Four of the timber piles will also be used as part of the Rockingham Beach Foreshore Revitalisation.”

The new jetty was constructed 150m north of the original timber jetty, with construction taking place between September 2017 and February 2018.

While the new jetty was under construction, the old timber jetty remained open for ferry services running to and from Penguin Island.

Subject to weather conditions, the demolition of the old timber jetty is expected to be completed by the end of this month. The new Mersey Point jetty has been operational since May 28.