Background
Council is progressing plans for the Barmera Jetty redevelopment. The Barmera Jetty is a long-term project focused on creating a safe, accessible and durable jetty that reflects the unique character of Lake Bonney and meets the needs of the wider community.
From the outset, design quality, constructability, whole-of-life costs and ongoing maintenance have been key considerations.
Council has now secured funding to progress detailed design to a level that will make the project shovel ready. The staged approach reflects the need to balance community expectations with responsible financial management, detailed design investigation and the pursuit of external funding.
Planning and consultation
Phase one and two community consultation were completed in 2023, alongside the preparation of a business case that included economic impact analysis. Since then, Council has worked with external consultants to refine concept designs and cost estimates. A range of design and material options have been thoroughly investigated to reduce overall project costs and ensure the project is financially viable.
Funding
In February 2026, Council agreed to proceed with detailed design of the U-shape jetty design.
Berri Barmera Council has secured $175,000 through the South Australia Constraints Measures project to fund the detailed design.
The SA Constraints Measures project is working to remove a range of barriers currently impeding environmental flows. It includes infrastructure upgrades that will contribute to building community resilience.
Over a 10 year period, the selected U-shape design is expected to significantly reduce operating costs compared to the current jetty and, if construction is fully externally funded, would be essentially cost neutral to operate over the life of Council’s Long Term Financial Plan while delivering strong community benefit.
The $90.79 million South Australia Constraints Measures project supports infrastructure upgrades that enhance environmental water delivery, community resilience and access during high-flow events. The project is delivered by the Government of South Australia and funded by the Australian Government as part of the Basin Plan.
The U-shape jetty design was preferred by the community and will now progress to detailed design. Many community members cited a preference for the jetty to provide an enclosed swimming area protected from boats and jet ski users.
