AFTER last week’s storm cracked Coogee’s old Ammo Jetty in two, a multi-million dollar face lift is coming its way.

The state’s peak body for fishermen is calling it a win for the community.

Built in 1903 for the loading and unloading of explosives, the Woodman Point Ammo Jetty has become one of the most popular recreational fishing jetties in Perth since the nearby explosive storage facilities were closed in 1984.

But the 108-year-old structure has lived well beyond its intended life with last week’s storm literally cracking the jetty in two – leading Marine Safety WA to closed it to the public.

• Ammo Jetty was split in two by the storm. Photo by Gus Cullen

Rebuild

Luckily plans to repair and rebuild the jetty had already been in development by the Department of Transport prior to the closure.

Recreational fishing peak body Recfishwest operations officer Levi De Boni, who grew up in Coogee, has been fishing off Ammo Jetty since he “could walk”, watching it “slowing falling into disrepair”.

He said the shutdown is ultimately a positive step and the $17.3 million dollar upgrade will be worth the wait.

“It’s going to basically have a similar footprint to the old one but it’s going to be wider and the original pylons from the old jetty are going to remain in place because they are a pretty valued dive site for the scuba divers,” Mr De Boni said.

• Recfishwest operations officer Levi De Boni has been fishing at Ammo Jetty pretty much since he could walk.

The new jetty will be built over the top of the older pylons, splitting the groups of fishermen and divers apart. 

Following consultation between the Department of Transport and Recfishwest, the updated design will also include a 50-metre T-head, doubling the jetty’s fishing space.

“It’ll be safer and more accessible for all the users, which is really cool,” Mr De Boni said.

Mr De Boni said although the jetty is closed, it showed that advocacy early on and getting plans in place have paid off. 

“If a storm hit five years ago and destroyed it then we would have been five or six years without a jetty instead of one so I think it’s a positive result and it’s timely.

“This is exactly the kind of infrastructure that supports safe, family-friendly fishing experiences close to Perth,” Mr De Boni said.

With works expected to begin soon, a new and improved jetty is expected to be ready by next summer.

The Herald contacted the DOT seeking comment on how it planned to enforce the jetty closure, prevent public access to the damaged structure and manage safety risks while it remains closed. 

They declined to comment.

by ISLA TOMLINSON