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Category: Weather / Storm Event / Fishing, Aquaculture / Tourism

Storm damage casts doubt on future of historic Port Germein jetty

Wednesday, 11 May 2016 04:32:28

The Port Germein jetty was damaged during a king tide on Monday. (Facebook: Alice Ngatamariki)

The future of what was once the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere is in doubt because of the damage it suffered during wild weather this week.

A high swell and king tides on Monday night twisted the 1.5-kilometre-long Port Germein jetty in South Australia into a mess of up-ended planks and bent metal.

The state's infrastructure department engineers are set to assess the damage, but the department has already warned that at this stage, repairs are a matter of if, rather than when.

"The level of damage at Port Germein is quite severe so we need to make a pretty thorough assessment as to whether that jetty can actually be repaired," the department's Paul Gelston said.

Port Germein jetty piles Photo: The Port Germein jetty in calmer waters, before it was damaged. (ABC Radio National: Ann Jones)

"We were quite shocked at the extent of the damage ... the jetty may need to be shortened, we may be able to repair it ... or if we're going to consider some other measures."

The Port Germein jetty was opened in 1881 and was built to allow wheat from South Australia's mid-north to be shipped on huge "windjammer" sailing ships.

Windjammers at Port Germein Photo: The windjammer Admiral Karpfanger with wheat sacks still on the jetty. (Supplied: State Library of South Australia)

A small locomotive engine was even installed on the jetty to carry the heavy cargo.

As the decades passed, the jetty became a popular recreational fishing spot.

Pulling a crab pot in, Port Germein jetty Photo: Blue swimmer crabs are a local delicacy. (ABC Radio National: Ann Jones)

The Port Germein jetty is one of several around South Australia which remain closed while damage to them is assessed.

The Moonta Bay jetty was also affected by this week's weather.

In metropolitan Adelaide, the Henley Beach jetty will be shut for at least a week, and the cost of repairs has already been estimated at between $30,000 and $40,000.

Henley Jetty has been damaged in a storm. Photo: Damage to the Henley Beach jetty. (891 ABC Adelaide)

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