NEPEAN MP Anthony Marsh has committed to rebuilding Flinders Pier under an elected Liberal government.
On 26 October, Marsh said the Victorian Liberals remain committed to fully restoring the pier, and they will deliver it if they win the upcoming state election.
“This local landmark is a non-negotiable priority for our community, and I am proud to have fought alongside our community since the campaign began in 2021,” said Marsh.
“I will be even more proud to see it finally delivered under a Liberal government.”
Marsh said the project has not been delivered because Labor “has turned their back on our community while funnelling money into their own backyard”, in reference to $11.9m spent on Altona Pier.
Charles Reis OAM, who started the Save Flinders Pier campaign, has been advocating for the pier for years.
Reis said he welcomed Marsh’s commitment.
“The Flinders Pier is an iconic part of the Mornington Peninsula. We never understood why the current government abandoned the rebuilding works when it was only two months from completion,” said Reis.
“We genuinely welcome Anthony Marsh’s commitment, along with those of other candidates, to prioritise the popular Flinders Pier in the upcoming state election.”
Flinders Pier was first built in 1864, with a concrete section added in 2011.
In 2020, Parks Victoria announced its Better Piers and Waterside Facilities program included the demolition of the inner section of Flinders Pier (“Heritage Pier faces partial demolition”, The News, 23/03/21).
In 2021, members of the Flinders Community Association were supported by Sir David Attenborough in their quest to save the inner section of the pier (“Attenborough supports Flinders Pier”, The News, 12/07/21).
The Heritage Council of Victoria added the pier to the State Heritage Register in late 2022, following a state budget allocation of $1.5m for emergency repairs due to community pressure (“Heritage listing for pier”, The News, 18/10/22).
The old section of the pier, a 180-metre timber section, was closed in April 2020 due to deterioration of piles and decking.
In 2025, Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said access to the inner section would be restored as part of Labor’s $18m investment in restoring Victoria’s heritage piers (“Flinders Pier restoration under way as campaigners urge attention to outer section”, The News, 03/12/25).
In June, it was announced the inner section of the pier would not be rebuilt due to the scope of the restoration and a lack of funding (“Flinders Pier restoration abandoned”, The News, 29/06/26).
Following the announcement, Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors and members of the community gathered to call on the state government to complete the restoration of the pier (“Council and community come together to advocate for Flinders Pier restoration”, The News, 17/08/26).
Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said the pier is part of the peninsula’s identity and should be restored.
“Completing the full restoration project, as committed and originally funded by the state government in November 2025, will preserve a significant community asset and support local tourism,” said Batty.
“Victoria’s finances are under pressure, and we understand governments face difficult decisions. But this is a project that has already commenced and remains unfinished.”
Reis said Marsh has been part of the Save Flinders Pier campaign for around five years, and he is in full support of the commitment.
“It’s something he has a history with, and I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of his promise,” said Reis.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 October 2026
