Pier strains trade

Andrew Mathieson
A Vehicle weight limit on Portarlington’s crumbling pier is set to strain the town’s seafood industries.
A study commissioned for a Portarlington Safe Harbour Project has revealed the “highly corrosive coastal environment” has deteriorated the pier’s concrete deck support beams.
A Parks Victoria order will block access to vehicles over 2.5 tonnes from from May 1.
Planning processes for the $30 million safe harbour project will address the condition of the pier, with an immediate priority for strengthening work as a short-term fix.
Parks Victoria conceded the vehicle load restriction would affect the aquaculture industry.
“We’re working closely with the Department of Primary Industries and the aquaculture industry to ensure continued operation of the pier and to minimise any potential impact on the mussel farmers’ activities,” Parks Victoria regional manager Stuart Ord said.
Portarlington’s mussel industry operates daily out of the harbour, using large vehicles for off-loading and transport of mussels.
The restrictions will prevent peak mussel producer Sea Bounty from using its 10-tonne truck on the pier.
Operator Lance Wiffen said the setback would be a “physical inconvenience”.
Unloading jobs would take 30 minutes instead of five and need twice the labour, he said.
Sea Bounty, a 30-year-old family business, packages its mussels for Coles supermarkets from St Leonards.
“It will affect my company, making me less efficient,” Mr Wiffen said
“It’ll be a bit of pain in the short term while they’re fixing it.
“They’re saying it will probably only be three or four months, so I’ll have to work through it.”
Mr Wiffen felt the entry to the pier was “dodgy”.
He was also worried restrictions could prevent further access, especially if the pier was dismantled and built again.
Parks Victoria conducts regular pier and jetty inspections as part of ongoing maintenance programs.
The safe harbour project is set to upgrade the pier area, including addition of extra berths and a commercial strip on the adjacent foreshore.