Fight to save historic Brighton breakwater at risk of collapse

A historic Melbourne fishing, sailing and tourist spot is on the brink of collapse, with the nearby yacht club now joining calls for urgent repairs before someone gets hurt.

Brighton Iceberger Don Warner, engineer and sailor Greg Kemp and Royal Brighton Yacht Club Vice Commodore Peter Strain at the crumbling 1938 Bend. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Rushed patch-up jobs have left Middle Brighton Pier “looking like a Third World relic” and sparked fears the prized asset is at risk of collapse.

The popular fishing, sailing and tourist spot is littered with rusted handrails, lights that don’t work, broken concrete and rotting timber.

And a timber and steel landing leading into the water actually collapsed and fell into the sea without warning last March.

The Royal Brighton Yacht Club has now joined Brighton specialist marine engineer Greg Kemp to call for a long-term solution, rather than “ugly Band-Aid cover ups”.

Mr Kemp said the “1938 bend” section at the end of the harbour was at serious risk of collapse within five years unless rotting timber underneath was replaced.

“Severe concrete cancer” is taking its toll.

The patch-up jobs on the concrete.

“It’s not a matter of if something bad will happen, it’s a matter of when,” Mr Kemp said.

“The pier and breakwater are of Third World standard — or worse — and in the six years I’ve been campaigning for a holistic plan, nothing has happened.

“The valuable asset is being left to fall apart and, without some serious intervention now, the cost and inconvenience will be worse than (if we act) now.”

Mr Kemp said waves were surging through the rotting timber, damaging the floating marina and bringing up more silt from the seabed, which meant more expensive dredging was needed.

The broken concrete and rotting timber at the 1938 Bend. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Royal Brighton Yacht Club Vice Commodore Peter Strain agreed something needed to be done.

“There’s a definite frustration when other (harbours) in more marginal seats get a lot more attention,” Mr Strain said.

MORE: SLEEPY SEAL CLOSES PART OF BRIGHTON BEACH

BREAKING DAWN WITH BRIGHTON ICEBERGERS

But Parks Victoria Port Phillip West Port district manager Graeme Davis said the pier and breakwater “were in good condition for their age”.

Mr Davis said the organisation undertook regular asset inspection programs, including weekly ranger patrols, to determine where funding was allocated.

He said sections of handrails had been replaced and pot holes filled. Nine light poles would be replaced in coming months, he said.

A section of handrail almost totally rusted away.

“We are able to calculate the load carrying capacity of the pier and appropriately … manage access to the pier to ensure it remains safe for visitors to access and enjoy,” Mr Davis said.

“Parks Victoria carefully monitors the condition of the deck panels and crossheads and will repair or replace as required.”

Victorian Government spokesman Joel Dwyer said Parks Victoria had developed a plan for the historic section of the pier, but did not clarify further details or whether a long-term solution and funding would be committed.