New $23m pier ‘set to host visiting cruisers’

Andrew Mathieson
A NEW Yarra Street pier will provide a berthing facility to meet increasing demand for cruise ships to visit Geelong, according to Mayor John Mitchell.
He said the rebuilt pier would also ensure Geelong’s Victoria Week yachting event could make its international profile “even bigger”.
City Hall has committed $5 million to building the pier but needs $15 million from other levels of government and a further $2.5 million from Royal Geelong Yacht Club.
Cr Mitchell said council had been in talks to attract more cruise ships to dock in Corio Bay.
Each cruise visit would bring $1 million in economic benefits to the city, he said.
The number of cruise ship passengers visiting Victoria was set to increase from 83,000 in 2010 to more than 216,000 by 2020.
“Cruise ship companies have expressed interest in coming to Geelong and in fact we’re due to host the Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit this year but our capacity to host ships is limited through the lack of suitable public infrastructure,” Cr Mitchell said.
“We’re calling on State Government to support Geelong’s Yarra Street Pier project in recognition of the significant economic benefit it would deliver to Victoria.”
The project would replace an original Yarra St Pier which burnt down in 1988.
Council’s plans would build a pier to accommodate cruise ships as well as provide moorings for 78 smaller recreational and charter boats on floating pontoons.
Cr Mitchell said the new pier would be a boon for Victoria Week, one of the world’s oldest yachting events with a history dating back to 1844.
“The Audi Victoria Week regatta is an enormously popular and successful event with a long and celebrated history but it could be even bigger if our plans to rebuild the Yarra Street Pier are realised.
“One of the most important upgrades for Audi Victoria Week would be the ability to provide berths for maxi yachts in sheltered water, which would add considerably to the event’s international appeal.”
The Independent reported in September that Silversea line vessel Silver Shadow, with a capacity of 382 guests, was scheduled to berth at Cunningham Pier on February 13.
The 540-passenger Silver Spirit was scheduled to dock at Cunningham Pier on 26 February before departing four hours later.