St Kilda Harbour Upgrade 2013

Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS) is undertaking a $6.5 million extension of the existing St Kilda breakwater as part of the safer harbour project. The extension of the breakwater will significantly improve boating safety and protection for recreational boats in St Kilda Harbour and the top end of the bay.

RMYS is also undertaking a $7.5 million investment in a new 250 berth marina facility with the latest safety and environmental services. The new development will provide a floating spine boardwalk for public access along the marina primary.

The Victorian Government supports the RMYS marina redevelopment project and is funding $1.2 million worth of foundation works at St Kilda Pier including an upgrade of the main jetty arm, to complement the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron’s marina redevelopment project.

The St Kilda Harbour Upgrade is a collaboration between Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and Parks Victoria.

A vibrant renewed recreational boating harbour that exists in harmony with the local ecology will increase public space and provide a greater St Kilda Harbour experience for tourists, local residents and recreational boat operators.

The works to extend the breakwater and rebuild the jetty arm will commence in mid January 2013 and form part of the initial stages of a longer term revitalisation of the St Kilda harbour precinct.

The existing penguin colony in the breakwater will be carefully managed during construction and will benefit from the extended breakwater providing more nesting places. The timing of the works have been deliberately scheduled not to interfere with Little Penguin breeding cycles.

Temporary construction compounds and launching/landing ramps are being installed for safety and construction access to deliver rocks to the breakwater. These will be removed on completion of the project and any affected areas of the foreshore will be fully restored once the project is complete.

Temporary closures or disruptions to access may be required during the works. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

It is anticipated the works will be completed towards the end of 2013 pending favourable weather and conditions.

Update March 2013: New piles being installed

Works are continuing to extend the current breakwater to provide greater protection and access for boating in the harbour, pedestrian visitors on the pier and associated walkways, and additional habitat for St. Kilda’s penguin colony.

Works have now commenced to install a number of steel piles at the southern end of the extended breakwater. These piles will provide an essential foundation for the future redevelopment of the pier, and are being funded by the State Government. The new breakwater will encompass these piles once completed.

The steel piles will be hammered into the seabed by a pile driver barge. The work is expected to take a couple weeks to complete depending on weather and conditions.

The timing of the works has been deliberately scheduled not to interfere with Little Penguin breeding cycles with works ceasing completely through the peak breeding season in Spring.

The penguin colony in the breakwater will be carefully monitored during construction and will benefit from the extended breakwater providing more nesting places once the works are complete.

Temporary construction compounds and launching/landing ramps have been installed on the beach for safety and construction access. The temporary compound and launching ramps will be removed on completion of the project and the foreshore will be fully restored once the project is completed in late 2013.

For further information
RMYS General Manager  Ph: 9534 0227  www.rmys.com.au 
Parks Victoria    Ph: 13 1963