THE Tanker Jetty could soon have a different title incorporating the name of a company if that company becomes a major contributor to the maintenance of the jetty.

The Esperance Community Alliance, which includes the Esperance Shire, the Chamber of Commerce, Esperance Regional Travellers Association and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, is currently drafting a proposal seeking corporate sponsorship for the Tanker Jetty and working towards a set management plan of up to 20 years.

Esperance Shire President Ian Mickel said he hopes one of the major companies that export through Esperance such as Portman mining or BHP Billiton Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine will agree to a long-term sponsorship.

“We want a company that will make contributions every year,” he said.

Currently the majority of funding comes from shire ratepayers with some extra dollars raised by the Friends of the Jetty group but many more thousands of dollars are needed to keep up with maintenance in the years to come.

“The Tanker Jetty is a fantastic icon facility in Esperance,” Mr Mickel said.

“There’s a great community desire to keep it maintained.”

Friends of the Jetty chairman Barry Stearne said the alliance would also be looking towards the government for some funding.

“It’s only fair that the state government spend money on the Tanker Jetty considering the money they’ve spent on other country town jetties,” Mr Stearne said.

“They funded the jetties on the west coast including Carnarvon, Albany and Busselton - they spent an enormous amount on Busselton.”

Mr Stearne said the last time the state government contributed towards the maintenance of the Tanker Jetty was about 20 years ago when they handed the jetty over to the shire. They contributed $150,000.

Mr Mickel said everyone in Esperance values highly the Tanker Jetty and would like to see it there for the long term.