Final design of St Leonards pier revealed

IT has been reported recently the state government has advised that at the end of last year, the new designs for the St Leonards Pier were released, and the community were invited to share ideas on external design features and pier furniture through a Parks Victoria survey.

The final detailed design for the pier has been unveiled, incorporating the external design features and pier furniture informed by community feedback.

The finalised design will include wheelchair-accessible fishing locations, curved seating overlooking the bay, and a low landing to provide safer access for boaters, divers, and snorkellers.

The updated design reflects community input while protecting the pier’s heritage values and recognising the significance of the surrounding marine environment, including nearby shipwrecks and archaeological artefacts.

The expanded pier will also feature educational signage sharing the maritime history of St Leonards, as well as information about the bay’s marine flora and fauna.

The tender for construction will be open in the coming weeks and updates will continue to be provided to the local community.

Victoria’s local ports contribute more than $900 million each year to local and regional economies through tourism, marine activities, and industry.

What a fantastic outcome for all Victorians but especially all those in St Leonards.

To learn about the St Leonards Pier rebuild head, to parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region/st-leonards-pier-rebuild-and-local-port-area-plan 

My Comment

Please note the pier had been slated for demolition in 2022.

The 2021-22 Annual Report Safety and Environment Plan for Port Phillip, Western Port and Port Campbell showed the percentage of assets approaching the end of their design life.

St Leonards Pier was slated as failed under this report, but the community rallied to apply pressure to the government and several organisations started a campaign to save the pier – and they did

This resulted in several emails and letters to the local member and to this paper.

“After seeing Garry Kerr’s article in My Big Catch, I feel compelled to voice my view on the closure of this icon of the town,” Tony’s letter to the editor stated in April 2022.

“I believe the jetty is an integral part of the town and believe that almost everyone that has visited St Leonards has been for a stroll along the jetty.

“It not only encourages people to get some fresh air and stretch their legs but is also the only public jetty in the area where people can fish from. With the governments promise to use fishing license fees for the benefit of fishers, I am staggered that they would contemplate closing the jetty which is the training ground for so many young fishers, as it was for myself many, many years ago.

“I am happy to sign any petition voting against the closure, and as a St Leonards resident, I will be watching very closely what action is taken by the responsible member.”

If you see or suspect any illegal fishing in Victoria, phone the 24/7 reporting service 13 FISH (133474) to speak directly to a Fisheries officer. You can remain anonymous.

FISHING REPORTS

Anglesea:

· Reports of some nice size pinkies being caught

· Reports of tuna are still being received.

Reports compliments of the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea

Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove:

· Silver trevally in the river

· Offshore bluefin tuna taking pilchards.

Lorne

· The flathead have reappeared in good numbers for boat fishers with heaps around the 40cm mark

· Snapper have also returned with some up to 50cm being caught

· Nannygai catches have been steadily increasing every year and they are now quite a common catch

· Gummy sharks are everywhere at the moment.

· The pier is continuing its run of great fishing with reports of good catches of Salmon, snapper, trevally, mullet, whiting, gummies and calamari.

Reports compliments of the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club

Torquay:

· Pinkies and flathead reports continue

· Tuna seem to have left the area

· Plenty of sharks around including gummy sharks, mako sharks and bronze whalers.

· Reports compliments of the Torquay Angling Club

St Leonards:

· Reports of whiting continue

· Reports of some calamari.

Indented Head:

· Reports of squid still being received

· Some good flathead also reported

Grassy Point:

· Some good-sized flathead

· Also reports of garfish.

Reports compliments of the Bellarine Pirates

Point Lonsdale:

· Still reports of some squid

· Reports of some salmon as well.

Queenscliff:

· Reports of a few snapper

· Reports of whiting on the grass

Portarlington Pier:

· Reports of some flathead.

Clifton Springs:

· Reports of a few snappers flathead, squid and whiting.

Point Richards:

· Reporting some big whiting up to 40cm.

CLUB CORNER

This is to all those out there who provide photos of their big catches.

First off, an apology to all my photo contributors. I have been inundated with photos, but I promise I will try to get them published as soon as possible.