![Jetty defence: The developer of a Lake Mulwala jetty for a group of nearby property owners has rejected claims made against it by opponents. Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK Jetty defence: The developer of a Lake Mulwala jetty for a group of nearby property owners has rejected claims made against it by opponents. Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zTpV5j6X6iLmSh5SbcmSaP/62b70b1e-6509-4deb-b0ed-4a19f5b849b8.jpg/r173_265_4769_3237_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A DEVELOPER behind a jetty proposed for a Lake Mulwala lagoon has hit back in defence of the structure.
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Jarrod Sheridan from Melbourne also rejected several arguments put by Loretta Saunders from Yarrawonga Wildlife Shelter.
For one, he said the planned jetty did not measure 80 metres by 30 metres, as suggested by Ms Saunders.
Instead, the proposed jetty was 50.71 metres by 6.8 metres, with a nine metre access ramp.
Ms Saunders had said she held grave fears about the proposal for Chinaman’s Island, claiming it posed a serious risk to the endangered broad-shelled turtle that was found in the lagoon.
She further said it the lagoon was “a beautiful sheltered area that is the only place with reed beds in Lake Mulwala.”
But Mr Sheridan said the lake featured kilometres of reed beds “that are equally if not more suited for turtle habitat as they are not in an area used by boats”.
Mr Sheridan said the jetty proposal also catered for a number of adjoining property owners who already used the lagoon for boat mooring, not just the one property owner.
Mr Sheridan said he had “relentlessly pursued” discussion with user groups over the past five years “with an open mind on how to resolve” various issues.
“I have since made efforts to continue these discussions but have been shut out,” he said.
“Now it seems these very groups seek to oppose the jetty entirely and reject any benefits it brings.”
Mr Sheridan said this “lack of consistency” was “concerning and disappointing”.