A $24 million construction blitz on Victorian piers and jetties will create new jobs and help the fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Included within the Victorian Government’s Better Piers and Waterside Facilities program is a $10 million redevelopment of Altona Pier, which aims to revitalise the foreshore and upgrade facilities at the site.
Locals have been invited to shape the new design, with three options currently being considered.
These include a replacement of the pier with a similar layout and materials, a new T-shaped pier, providing more space for recreational activities such as fishing, and a new angled pier head, maintaining proximity to the offshore artificial reefs while also providing shade and seating for water views towards the beach.
The deck will be widened between the shore and the low landing, while sections of the outer arm and berthing area will be reconstructed.
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The Better Piers and Waterside Facilities program also includes safety upgrades and repairs to Middle Brighton Pier, the Queenscliff South Pier lifeboat shed and the demolition of the inner section of the old Flinders Pier.
The loading area of Port Welshpool’s Marginal Wharf will also be rebuilt and there will be safety upgrades and repairs at Rye Pier, Tooradin Jetty and Portland Bay Trawler Wharf.
“This work will create jobs for local workers, provide an economic injection to regional areas and see a long-term boost for the fishing, aquaculture and tourism industries as we rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic,” Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said.
“This work will replace old infrastructure with newer and safer facilities so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
“We understand how important these piers are to their local communities so it’s vital for us to address the needs of residents and pier users.”