In 2020,the government said that it would demolish the 157-year-old pier in Flinders,but buried the announcement in dropped during the dark days of COVID’s first wave.
The decision sparked local outcry and a campaign which eventually drew in British naturalist Sir David Attenborough,who feared the pier’s destruction would harm the endangered weedy sea dragons,which thrive in the waters of Western Port Bay.
Now,two years later,and with little fanfare,the government has decided that the pier will be saved. But the decision only came to light thanks to Charles Reis,of the,who discovered that Tuesday’s budget included $18 million to restore piers and jetties across the state,including $1.5 million to ensure the immediate repairs of the timber section of the Flinders Pier.
Reis said that after local Labor MP Chris Brayne confirmed the news on Wednesday,the community reacted with “jubilation”.
“Everyone is absolutely thrilled,” Reis said.
The community had filed a submission for the site to be heritage-listed,which is currently under review and set to be decided next month.
A government spokesperson confirmed that a timeframe for the repair work would be put in place once that process was complete.
“Detailed assessments and planning for these future works can progress following the completion of the heritage assessment,” the spokesperson said.
Built in 1864,the pier is not only historically significant,its timber pylons are an integral component of the ecosystem which is home to the weedy sea dragons,Victoria’s official marine animal.
The Age previously reported that that the pier needed urgent repairs,but failed to act before announcing the plans to demolish the first 180 metres of the original pier.
After the local community became aware of the plans in May 2021,a grass-roots movement began and posters,T-shirts,bumper stickers and were created.
From the general store to the local fish and chip shop,signs to save the pier adorned every shop window of the Mornington Peninsula town.
collected more than 41,000 signatures.
It wasn’t just the local community invested in saving the pier,Attenborough of restoring the pier and protecting the weedy sea dragon’s habitat.
“I am so sorry to hear of the threat to the habitat of the weedy sea dragon on the Mornington Peninsula,” he wrote.
“I do indeed think that it is a most wonderful creature and if I find an opportunity to draw attention publicly to the changes that now threaten its survival,I will take them.”
Marine educator Trent Williams,who died last month,was an active supporter of the campaign.
Speaking toThe Agein January,Williams said that there was to suggest that Flinders and Portsea had a unique subspecies of the weedy sea dragon,which is endemic to Australia.
“I feel honoured to be in the water with them,” Williams said.
“I had a great dive down at Flinders a couple weeks ago and saw about 20 of them under the pier.”
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