Already christened with squid ink, fishermen, scuba divers, locals and visitors have been making good use of the new jetty since the barricades came down two weeks ago.

Rated as one of the country’s top fishing and diving spots, access to most of the existing jetty was closed on Christmas Eve 2004 after it was deemed unsafe.

The local community, anglers and divers have rallied for the jetty’s future ever since, forming the Friends of the Rapid Bay Jetty less than two weeks later.

Their prayers were answered when the state government announced in September 2006 plans to build a new $3.9 million structure.

Rough weather prevented construction firm Bardavcol from finishing the jetty by the end of last year as planned.

However, Friends of the Rapid Bay Jetty members are extremely pleased to see the jetty finally completed after a long and arduous campaign.

“I am just so happy for the whole district; it is really going to benefit everyone,” spokesperson Glenice Galbraith said.

As former co-owner of the Delamere General Store, Glenice said business halved when the old jetty was closed.

“People were so upset, but it wasn’t just the businesses that were affected,” she said.

“The overall affect on people made me realise what it is for people and how much they love the place too; not just locals but international tourists too.”

Only weeks after the jetty’s completion, the store’s current owner, Kaye Maslin, is already enjoying an increase in business.

“Locals are telling me that more people than usual are camping here on weekends; everyone is so excited,” she said.

The new 240m jetty features solar lighting, stairs and platforms for divers and is expected to boost the town’s tourism.

“It is a popular attraction for the region … (and) I certainly think it will get more people coming back into Rapid Bay,” Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism’s Roz Becker said.