He said after two severe storms in recent weeks that had collapsed the jetty in two sections now was not the time to talk of writing off local responsibilities.

Last week councillor Brendan Kelly called to hand back control to the State Government and reassign a $3.5 million contribution proposed to save as much of it as possible.

“We finally got a deal with the State Govern-ment and have done as much as necessary so it would last at least 25 years without maintenance,” Mr Smith said.

“Councillors should reject this and get moving on the part that needs to be demolished and fix the rest.”

The jetty would be demolished to about the bend and the rest preserved under the $7 million plan that is part of the Bunbury waterfront project.

Mr Smith said all costs for maintenance in the past decade had been paid for from a State grant of $1 million that was still far from running out.

Mr Smith is also vice president of the Bunbury Timber Jetty Preservation Society.

He said it was devastating for people involved in the 25 year long campaign such as himself and well known jetty campaigner Snookie Manea for these types of calls to be made.

During discussion of Cr Kelly’s motion last week some councillors raised concerns over the lack of time to absorb the concept.

By a close margin the question was referred to the next monthly round of meetings.

Cr Kelly last night brought the issue up at budget deliberations hoping to have the contribution removed until his original motion is heard.

“I was fairly relaxed about it last week going back to committee but it didn’t cross my mind that we had the budget meeting coming up,” he said.