Holes, cracks found in historic Station Pier to be repaired in new maintenance program
Cracks and cavities have been discovered at another historic pier in Melbourne, which is set to undergo urgent repairs. It comes after Docklands’ ageing Central Pier was permanently closed last month.
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Holes and cracks in Melbourne’s heritage-listed Station Pier have sparked essential repair works to ensure the tourist gateway is up to scratch.
The ageing timber piles holding up the Port Melbourne pier — used by 90 per cent of cruise ships visiting Victoria — are dotted with severe cavities and cracks, and some are missing completely.
The Herald Sun can reveal detailed inspections carried out last year found 18 piles were deemed to have failed building standards. Another 33 piles were found to be in poor condition.
Repair work is now expected to begin in May to rehabilitate the “damaged, missing and deteriorated timber piles” on the historic pier.
It comes after the 100-year-old Central Pier in Docklands was permanently closed last month because of safety concerns.
Ports Minister Melissa Horne said the current Station Pier structure had been in continuous use since it opened in 1928.
“Like all structures, it requires regular maintenance to preserve it and ensure there are no safety issues,” she said.
Station Pier initially opened in 1854 and has since welcomed migrants, refugees, tourists, returning soldiers — and even the first English cricket team to tour Australia.
The pier — which is the Spirit of Tasmania’s permanent home — was used by 107 cruise vessels last year carrying 320,927 passengers and crew.
Tender documents seen by the Herald Sun show several engineering methods will be used to rehabilitate the piles, with some timber bracing to be replaced with steel.
A contract for the maintenance work is expected to be awarded in April, with work to be carried out from May to October — outside of the cruise ship season — this year and next year.
In 2018, the state government handed $5.8 million to Victorian Ports Corporation to “undertake planning work to grow both domestic ferry and cruise ship operations in Victoria”.
Of that, $3.15 million is being spent on capital works to upgrade existing infrastructure at Station Pier.
Planning is also underway for future redevelopment works, with hundreds of locals contributing to a consultation process.
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They called for improvements to ease congestion in the area, including better public transport access, more parking, and a designated area for taxis and ride-sharing vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers.
They also lobbied for more food and beverage options, pop-up art and musical attractions outside of the peak shipping season, and space for health and yoga classes on the pier.