The wait is over for local anglers and visitors following the completion of critical repairs at Warrnambool’s historic harbour.
The Andrews Labor Government invested $250,000 in emergency funds to repair the Warrnambool Breakwater after a storm caused significant damage in April 2021.
The works have restored pedestrian access to the breakwater and parapet walkway, with safety handrailing and concrete capping reinstated.
Repairs to the low landing deck will support the local commercial fishing industry to unload their catch and refuel their boats.
Built between 1884 and 1890, the Warrnambool landmark at Lady Bay remains one of the most recognisable and popular sites in Victoria’s southwest.
The project was funded through the 2021-22 Local Port Program and was overseen by local ports manager Warrnambool City Council.
The Labor Government, through Better Boating Victoria, has also funded the upgrade of Warrnambool’s boating facilities to the tune of $3.5 million. Warrnambool City Council recently awarded a contract for construction to Bridgewater Marine, which will see two new jetties built and the boat ramp resurfaced amid a host of improvements.
A further $1 million of funding has been awarded to the council by Better Boating Victoria, which will see significant dredging undertaken near the ramp in Lady Bay to provide better boating access at all tides.
The upgrades will make it easier for boaters launch and retrieve their vessels from the water.
Work is expected to begin in June and take about three months to complete.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne said, “The completion of repairs to the Warrnambool Breakwater will go a long way in supporting commercial operators, fishers and boaters, and the wider community. This local landmark is an iconic spot, and these vital works will revive the bay and ensure it’s safe for locals and visitors now and into the future.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said, “There are few things more synonymous with Warrnambool than the breakwater, so it is fantastic to finally reopen the structure to locals and visitors, who rely on it for fishing and boating. Warrnambool remains a hugely popular tourist town, so all the work we are doing to revive Lady Bay and its facilities will ensure local businesses are supported for years to come.”
