BUSSELTON Jetty has become a target for antisocial behaviour with reports of human defecation; fish guts being deliberately stuffed into hard-to-clean places; littering and camping on the jetty.
Deputy Mayor Tom Tuffin said that incidents of this kind are becoming more frequent.
“These careless and often deliberately malicious acts are spoiling the jetty experience for locals and visitors,” he said.
“The city has made a significant investment in the Busselton Jetty and our community will not tolerate this blatant disrespect. We all have the right to enjoy the jetty without coming face-to-face with these sorts of disgusting and potentially dangerous acts.
“Much of this antisocial behaviour which includes taking dogs on to the jetty, lighting fires on the jetty, littering and failing to clean fish at designated fish cleaning stations, is in direct violation of the City of Busselton Jetty Local Law and Local Government Property Local Law.
“People caught engaging in these sorts of acts face prosecution and a $200 on the spot infringement.
“The City of Busselton, the local Police and BJECA are working hard to stamp out this type of antisocial behaviour.
“One important measure being deployed is the installation of CCTV along the jetty. The city and BJECA will share the installation cost of a CCTV system with cameras being strategically positioned along the jetty to ensure broad coverage.
“It’s sad that we have to resort to installing CCTV on the Busselton Jetty,” Cr Tuffin said.
“However, if this is what it takes to preserve and protect the integrity of our historic jetty, which is one of the State’s most visited tourist attractions, then so be it.
“We’re about to open Section 10 to the public and we need to be confident that this last section of the jetty which houses the underwater observatory, does not become a target for louts and vandals who have no regard for the comfort and safety of others.”
Cr Tuffin said city rangers and local police regularly patrol the Busselton Jetty.
Incidents of antisocial behaviour on the jetty should be reported to the local Police or City of Busselton Rangers.
