Middle Brighton Pier

** Pier reopens in time for summer fun **

Vital repairs making Middle Brighton Pier safe for everyone to use again are now complete and visitors are being welcomed back in time for the warmer summer months and peak visitor and boating season. 

 

Project partner

Department of Transport; Part of the Victorian Government’s $2.7 billion Building Works economic stimulus initiative –  $24.4 million Piers and Jetties stimulus package.  
 

Key information  

As part of the Victorian Government’s piers and jetties investment across Port Phillip and Western Port, vital repairs have restored public access to a 340-metre section of Middle Brighton Pier, on Bunurong Sea Country, from the foreshore to the marina entrance.  Urgent remediation works were completed in April 2021 to the 1977 constructed section of pier to strengthen the piles and crossheads.  The second stage of work completed in November 2021 involved the replacement of some concrete deck panels on the pier approach up to the marina entrance.   

Parks Victoria has been monitoring the condition of Middle Brighton Pier closely as it approaches the end of its design life.  In 2020, access to the pier and breakwater was restricted due to structural failure which posed public safety concerns. 

While the current repairs go a long way to restoring access to parts of the pier that benefit the community most now, they do not extend to remediation works to the outer low landing and the 1938 constructed section of pier.  Until planning around the future of the entire Middle Brighton pier and breakwater precinct is complete, public risk minimisation is our highest priority and the unsafe sections (outer low landing and 1938 constructed section of pier / breakwater) remain closed.   A like for like replacement of the shelter on the pier approach is scheduled for 2022 through Parks Victoria’s ongoing asset management program.

The Middle Brighton Harbour Precinct is an iconic waterside facility, and priority investment into restoring safe access to the areas that benefit the community most now while also commencing a longer-term planning process will make sure it continues to thrive into the future

 

Planning for the future

The repair work, funded through the Victorian Government’s Piers and Jetties economic stimulus packages, are designed to prolong the life of the pier approach for another 10 to 15 years ahead of future planning.  Part of the funded project also includes early investigations into the longer-term options for the entire pier and breakwater managed by Parks Victoria.

A project reference group comprising Parks Victoria, Bayside City Council and the Department of Transport has been established to advise on the project. Stakeholder input is and will continue to be sought at the early investigation stage ahead of future detailed planning and broader community consultation stages being developed.  This is the first step in a longer-term planning cycle to help inform future decision making and investment priorities for this important local port asset. Parks Victoria will continue to work with the community and stakeholders to consider and develop the future vision for the Middle Brighton Pier and breakwater. 

 

Maintenace dredging for safe navigation

To ensure continued safe boating access within the harbour, a joint maintenance dredging operation between Parks Victoria and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club was completed in November 2021. Recognising the impacts of COVID-19 and extended closure of the Middle Brighton Pier for repairs, the Victorian Government worked with the Royal Brighton Yacht Club to support dredging of the access fairway, which lies partly outside the Club’s lease area, in preparation for the peak boating season. The Club is responsible for maintaining access to the marina entrance.   

Dredging was needed as coastal processes have caused sand accretion of the Brighton Dog Beach (officially known as Sandown Street Beach), narrowing of the inner access channel fairway width from 30 to 15 metres and some impact to safe navigation for recreational boaters and emergency services.  Around 10,000m3 of sand was extracted from two dredge areas and transferred via pipeline to the disposal area north-east of the harbour where it has re-entered the natural longshore process.   

 

Stay up to date

 

For regular project updates, please subscribe to the Middle Brighton Pier mailing list. 

 

Other information

 

Parks Victoria is the Local Port Manager for Port Phillip, Western Port and Port Campbell, with the three local ports combined receiving approximately 80 million visits a year, and include 263,000 hectares of waterway, marine protected areas, channels, piers and jetties, moorings and aids to navigation.

The Victorian Government has committed $24.4 million through its Piers and Jetties Stimulus Packages to upgrading and maintaining key jetties and piers across Victoria. These projects were announced as part of the government’s $2.7 billion Building Works initiative and form a key part of the $328.4 million Victorian Government investment in critical freight, boating, public transport and roads maintenance which will create or support more than 600 jobs as we recover from the coronavirus crisis.  

The jetty and pier projects include:  
• Better Piers and Waterside Facilities package: $11.6 million for upgrades and maintenance of piers in Port Phillip including Altona Pier, Middle Brighton Pier, Queenscliff South Pier.
• Portarlington Harbour Upgrade: $9.6 million upgrade of Portarlington Pier.  
• Pier and Jetty Maintenance package: $3.2 million upgrade of Rye Pier, Port Welshpool Marginal Wharf, Portland Trawler Wharf pontoon and Tooradin Jetty.  
This $24.4 million investment will create local jobs, 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.  

 

Related items

 

Places to see - Middle Brighton Pier

Bay Trail Duplication project :  

Bayside City Council is also undertaking the Bay Trail Duplication project to enhance a 17km stretch of bay trail between Sandown Street and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, delivering a safer route for pedestrian and cyclists along Port Phillip