MAJOR maintenance works are set to begin at Portsea Pier in July after storm damage in mid-2024.
The pier will be closed during construction, and a marine exclusion zone will be put in place to ensure people’s safety.
The pier is expected to re-open in late 2026, ahead of the summer period. Works will begin at the pier entrance and be completed in stages.
Sarah Auld, Director of Maritime and Waterways at Parks Victoria, said the works will ensure the pier is able “to be enjoyed by the community well into the future”.
“Our piers and jetties exist in harsh maritime environments — these significant maintenance works at Portsea Pier will help make it safer and more able to withstand future storm event,” said Auld.
Following the 2024 storm, the pier received emergency repairs but technical investigations at the time revealed a need for further works. The maintenance is needed to ensure long-term access for the public and strengthen the structural integrity.
The works will include repairing and replacing key structural elements, including crossheads and beams, decking and capping boards, and more than 40 deteriorated piles.
The 146- year-old structure is an import landmark for the Portsea community and visitors and in 2024, there was concern about long-term preservation and the future of the pier following the storm (Cloud hangs over Portsea Pier as damage goes unaddressed, The News 13/12/24).
The maintenance works will be funded through an insurance payout from the storm in 2024 and Victorian Government Coastal Recovery Works. A Marine Ecology Assessment will be used to minimise impacts on the marine environment and guide the works.
Parks Victoria has advised visitors and residents looking for similar recreational fishing experiences to visit Sorrento and Rye piers.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 3 June 2026
