The Busselton shire and Busselton Jetty Environment and Conservation Association (BJECA) have announced that the Jetty Fiesta will coincide with another major event, the Busselton Jetty Swim.

The reopening will be only a handful of days short of the 100th anniversary of the official opening of the 600m extension to the original jetty in 1911.

A proposal to run the fiesta in association with the annual Jetty Swim was put to its committee last week, which notified the shire that it supported the proposal and was happy to work with the shire to host the events back-to-back.

This will see celebrations spread over the first weekend in February next year with the Jetty Fiesta being staged on Saturday, while check-in for registered Jetty Swim competitors is underway.

As scheduled, the Busselton Jetty Swim will take place on Sunday, February 6.

“The Busselton Jetty Swim is an increasingly popular ocean swim event and with the announcement of this co-hosting arrangement, event organisers are expecting a record number of participants,” said Jetty Swim committee president Max Higgins.

“We’re really excited to have the opening of the jetty and the annual Jetty Swim on the same weekend.

“In most instances it will be business as usual for jetty swimmers with no significant deviation from the Jetty Swim program.

“We’ll just have the added excitement of a major headline act and fireworks and of course it’s a wonderful promotional opportunity for our region – the atmosphere will be fantastic.”

Busselton Jetty Fiesta Working Group chairman Cr Grant Henley said: “It makes good sense to stage these two great events together over one fantastic weekend.

“Plans are already well underway and we’ve had an indication from both the Premier, Colin Barnett, and Minister for Regional Development, Brendon Grylls, that they intend to attend.

“There will be cost savings through shared use of infrastructure, but more importantly these two events will complement each other.”

Busselton shire president Ian Stubbs said: “This will be an historic weekend for the Shire of Busselton.

“It will mark the opening of our jetty, which has been closed for more than a year and while it will be the 16th annual Jetty Swim.

“The winner will be the first one around the newly-restored jetty – a double celebration.”