Demolition of the Peace Park Jetty is under way, 15 years after it was built as a way to honour Albany’s Anzac convoy legacy.
All that remained of the jetty on Tuesday afternoon was pylons and half of its decking, with the railing and memorial plaques for Anzac vessels already removed.
Albany council decided to demolish the structure at its March meeting at a cost of $220,000 following the discovery of severe corrosion that was corrupting its structural integrity.
Councillors voted 7-2 to demolish the structure “as soon as practicable” subject to the schedule of Albany 2026 events taking place in that area.
Built in 2011 with $500,000 in Federal Government funding under the moniker the Pier of Remembrance, sections of the substructure now have up to 62 per cent steel loss.
The entrance to the jetty at the fringe of the Anzac Peace Park was shut off in January as it was deemed unsafe for public use.
A public survey asking whether the community wanted to repair, keep and improve the structure — later estimated to cost between $350,000 and $500,000 — returned overwhelmingly positive results, with 64 of 68 respondents reporting they wanted to keep it.
Former City of Albany employee Peter Brown, who managed the construction of the project, claims the jetty was built with longevity in mind and the damage could have been easily preventable with routine maintenance.
“It was given to the city as a gift from the RSL, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the government — it’s not theirs to demolish,” he said.
Fragments of the structure, including the decking, handrail and memorial plaques will be salvaged and relocated to locations such as Eyre Park or Lake Seppings.
A significant plaque honouring the HMAS AE2 World War I submarine famed for its role in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign, is likely to be placed within the Anzac Peace Park or Albany Heritage Park.
Work to remove the structure is expected to be completed within the month.
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