Warneet and the surrounding coastal community came together on Saturday 25 October to celebrate the official opening of the town’s long-awaited jetties, marking a milestone of a five-year campaign.
More than 300 residents gathered at the foreshore for an afternoon of celebration, including a sausage sizzle, live band, face painting, and scenic boat tours along the pier. The event followed an official opening earlier last week, attended by Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne.
Warneet Motor Yacht Club commodore and campaign lead Alex Stroud said for him personally, it had been a thoroughly enjoyable process, and it had been an absolute honour and a privilege to do it.
“I’ve learned a lot. I’ve met some very wonderful people. But without the committee and the community support, especially the community support, that’s what kept the project going,” he said.
“It’s actually the biggest community project for the coastal villages in over 25 years. Over $9 million. It’s a huge infrastructure there.”
The Save Warneet Jetties campaign began in 2020 after both the North and South jetties on the Warneet foreshore were closed by Parks Victoria due to safety concerns.
For locals, the jetties were much more than timber structures.
As outlined by the Save Warneet Jetties campaign, they provided vital access to land at any tide for boaters and emergency services, safe boarding points for older or less mobile residents, and crucial evacuation routes during bushfires when road access could be cut off.
They were also cherished as fishing spots, platforms for youth recreation, and a scenic promenade for residents and visitors alike, supporting local tourism, boating businesses, and the community’s connection to the water.
Their closure sparked widespread frustration and concern over public safety, particularly given Warneet’s single-road access and the need for evacuation routes in emergencies.
In response, residents formed the campaign group.
“We had a committee of 12 people from the very beginning. And we had fortnightly meetings for about six months. A lot of government connections and contacts through the State government. We had the Federal Government involved for a little bit,” Alex recalled.
“Before we had the critical funding that was needed from the election commitment, we were fighting a losing battle, and no one was hearing our pleas or talking to us.
“It wasn’t until we had that election commitment that we knew we had traction.
“When the Labor Party won the state seat, we then had it, and we then kept fighting for it. Although they commit to it, we made sure they held their commitment.”
The construction contract was awarded for both jetties in late 2024.
Warneet local Bruce Ashcroft, who captured the celebration, said the day symbolised community pride.
“I walk around Warneet every day, doing probably six or seven kilometres. I speak to a lot of people. And everyone was just so happy. They really wanted it to get done,” he said.
“They (construction team) have done a fantastic job. It’s a big process on having to take the old one out and get the big barge in and then transfer everything over. And then you have strong winds.”
Alex said that for newcomers who had never seen the north jetty open, they could now enjoy it.
