A new village at the end of the Busselton Jetty is a step closer after the City of Busselton council approved a proposal put forward by Busselton Jetty Inc.
BJI chairperson Barry House said construction of the village was due to start immediately after the Busselton Jetty Swim in February next year and should be operating by December 2020.
Mr House said BJI would undertake consultation to find the best name for the village which will consist of a glass structure at the end of the jetty to provide more activities for people visiting.
"It will operate like a kiosk, not a full restaurant but a venue where people could spend time at the end of the jetty," he said.
"People will be able to have a coffee, a glass of wine, a cheese board or a small fish and chips while they take in the unique aspect of being nearly two kilometres out to sea and special features like the sunset.
"It will also be available for functions if people want to hold them at the end of the jetty."
The purpose of the village project was in response to visitor feedback, which indicated people wanted to spend more time at the end of the jetty and have something to do.
"It's also to try and cater for the increased demand because we are virtually at full capacity in terms of visits to the underwater observatory and the train," Mr House said.
"Our next challenge will be how to move more people from the shore to the end of the jetty."
The village project has largely been self-funded by the jetty's operating surplus, along with $325,00 from the Federal Government's Building Better Regions Fund and $100,000 from the City of Busselton.
A licence fee to operate the village will be paid by BJI to the city totalling $105,000 in its first five years of operation.
Mr House said the village would allow BJI to put more money into the preservation and jetty maintenance fund operated by the city relieving burden from ratepayers.
"At the moment BJI contribute more than $900,000 per annum, we will be able to contribute even more," he said.
The next major project for the jetty will be construction of the world's largest underwater observatory which is still in a discussion phase.
Once completed the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre will feature the largest windows in the world, new underwater habitats, an underwater dining and function centre with lighting, high tech exhibitions, educational spaces and environmental learning areas.
The Federal Government have supported the underwater observatory project with a $13 million investment from the Regional Growth Fund.
