Save Hampton Pier: Locals band together to save 150-year-old Bayside icon
The future of a 150-year-old jewel in Bayside’s crown is in doubt after it was shut with just a day’s notice last week. Now the community and local government have come together to demand answers.
Inner South
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Bayside residents fear the 150-year-old Hampton Pier may have closed for good after Parks Victoria shut it without notice.
Boat owners were given no notice of its closure on June 9 and have banded together, along with concerned community members, to demand answers from Parks Victoria.
John Burton, who is leading a community campaign to save the pier, said he has no idea what will happen now fences have been erected and the pier shut off.
“The pier definitely needs work and I think most of us are delighted something is finally happening,” he said.
“But, there is real concern the pier will be closed forever so we’re trying to build public support for the retention of the pier.”
Mr Burton said boat owners had just one days’ notice to move their boats from the pier before the fences were erected.
To move their boats they must now contact Parks Victoria and organise a time to access the pier.
It comes at a cost of thousands of dollars for most boat owners, with some having to move their vessels as far as Williamstown and Geelong.
David Wassell from Hampton RSL, which has a fishing boat moored at Hampton Pier, said the lack of notice given to the boat owners was just “throwing them to the wolves”.
“And when asked what the prospective outcome of shutting it is they’re very noncommittal,” he said.
“Of course it’s a major concern (that it won’t reopen), it’s a community facility that’s been here since the 1900s and become part of the Bayside and Sandringham and Hampton furniture.
“You don’t just take it to the tip if you can’t afford to fix it … if you think it belongs here, get the dollars out and fix it.
Graham White, who owns a boat moored at the pier, said he had been in touch with the local Sandringham Historical Society who were “very concerned” with what was going on.
“They’re going to get involved and I am going to get an online petition going,” Mr White said.
“I’ve had meetings with Parks Victoria where I asked will it be repaired, replaced, or replaced at all, and they can’t confirm any one of those three options.”
Bayside Council Mayor Clarke Martin has written to state government ministers demanding to know when the pier will reopen, if at all.
“Council is concerned regarding the sudden pier closures across Bayside including Brighton, Black Rock and Hampton piers,” he said.
“We have written to ministers to advocate for an efficient process and seek assurance of the Victorian State Government that the piers will be fixed as soon as possible.
“It is important for stakeholders and residents alike to know how long these closures will last and get a commitment to complete the works quickly.
“We’re calling on Parks Victoria to get these piers repaired and reopened as soon as possible.”
Sandringham state Liberal MP Brad Rowswell said there have been known and well documented issues with the pier for some time.
“So why close it with no notice now,” he said.
“The Andrews Labor Government needs to urgently confirm that they will invest in necessary works at Hampton Pier and re-open it for the use of boat owners and locals.
“Boat owners pay hundreds of dollars in state government licencing fees and registrations. The very least the government can do is fix the pier and provide these boaties with certainty about their future.”
A Parks Victoria spokesman said the pier was closed after an inspection found it to be unsafe.
“The jetty and associated berthing will be closed until further notice while Parks Victoria conducts further assessments to consider the full extent of the issue and next steps,” he said.
“We have been working closely with key stakeholders who use the pier to provide alternative arrangements.”
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