ON a perfect February day last Sunday, the local community celebrated the long-awaited new jetty opening accompanied with fishing competitions, picnics and free food.

During the 2016 floods, the jetty became significantly damaged and needed to be replaced, as Wendy Trotter-Prust, a spokesperson for The Dunkeld Public Lands Committee stated, “it was demolished.”

Five years later, nearly a hundred people came together on the banks of Dunkeld Arboretum to commemorate the day, as children had fishing competitions and face painting.

Ms Trotter Prust said the jetty has previously been known to be the prime sport for fishing, taking photos of the landscape and swimming.

The jetty was built with the help of local donors, as the Dunkeld Public Lands Committee invited the community out to celebrate the opening and coming together after two years of lockdowns.

About a hundred people enjoyed the lovely day and free entertainment that included a mobile zoo and a handball competition, as David Hampton cut the ribbon.

There was a free sausage sizzle and homemade lemonade, which was supplied by DRASS, as families brought picnics to take advantage of the sunny day.

“It was so good to get back as a community,” Ms Trotter-Prust said.