Retention of Catherine Hill Bay jetty 'unviable'

THE days of Catherine Hill Bay's historic coal jetty appear to be numbered following an application from its owners to demolish it. The Department of Primary Industries has confirmed that a draft application to demolish the heritage-listed jetty had been received from Peabody-Lake Coal.The jetty is the most recent of three coal loading jetties that have stood on the site since the 1870s. It remained in operation until 2002.Peabody spokeswoman Jennifer Morgans said the company had applied to demolish the jetty because it had become a safety hazard."We are putting forward the application primarily on safety," she said."We can't stop children continually getting over the fence to get on to it and then jumping off."She said the jetty had become increasingly difficult to maintain."Because of the heritage listing you have to restore it in a certain way and the materials are not available, so it is unviable," Ms Morgans said.But Rose Group managing director Bryan Rose, whose company is seeking to build 600 homes at Catherine Bay, said he was committed to the jetty's protection."For years Rose Group has sought the support of the Catherine Hill Bay Progress Association for sympathetic, adaptive re-use of the jetty in order to save it for future generations," Mr Rose said. Primary Industries Department environmental sustainability director Elise Newberry said the application would be assessed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.