Mornington Harbour Local Port Area Plan

Project status

December 2023

• Community consultation on the draft plan is now closed.  We are currently reviewing the feedback and will report back through Engage Victoria. 

 

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The project

This project is being delivered on Bunurong Sea Country.

A new plan is in development for the future of Mornington Harbour and the adjoining waters managed by Parks Victoria.

The Mornington Harbour Local Port Area Plan (plan) will draw from the current understanding of the site, as well as ideas and aspirations generated from community feedback, and set out strategic direction ensuring the harbour continues to be a thriving maritime asset for many more years to come.

This includes providing guidance on pier and jetty infrastructure to support commercial and recreational users, as well as additional improvements to harbour safety, access and function through review of fairways and the mooring area.

Community feedback on the aspirations and requirements for a successful harbour will help inform the planning process.

The outcome of the process is a future-ready plan for this important maritime precinct. The plan will help guide priorities and provide a more sustainable approach to meeting economic, tourism and community needs.

 

Above - An aerial view of Mornington Pier, the mooring ground and various maritime infrastructure.  Credit Parks Victoria.

 

Above - Map showing focus area for project and existing conditions

 

Background

Located on the Mornington Peninsula, Mornington Harbour is popular with people accessing the many great recreational walking, boating and fishing opportunities on offer and holds significant value to locals and visitors alike.

Over the past ten years, there has been significant investment in the replacement and upgrade of Mornington Pier and landside infrastructure, with further funding now committed to rebuild Fishermans Jetty.  To ensure the best outcome from this investment, a local port area plan is being developed.

The plan aims to confirm replacement of Fishermans Jetty preserving the heritage values of the area, as well as ensuring that the harbour’s access channels continue to provide safe access for the vessels today, while catering for potential future operators, tourism and commercial needs.

Focusing on on-water elements, the planning process will consider:

• Impacts of climate change
• Maritime safety and compliance with the relevant standard for channels 
• Location and number of berth and moorings 
• Pier and jetty infrastructure for improved access and enjoyment
• Needs of on-water recreational and commercial users
• Provision for large vessels
• Historical and cultural values.  

 

This project is part of the Victorian Government’s Sustainable Local Ports Framework and Parks Victoria's local ports forward planning program. It includes undertaking detailed planning and further stakeholder and community engagement, supported by existing and further studies and investigations.

 

Project funding

This planning project is funded by the Victorian Government through the Department of Transport and Planning. The jetty rebuild is funded by the Victorian Government under the 2022-23 State Budget.

Who are we working with?

A project reference group comprising representatives from Parks Victoria, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Better Boating Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation has been convened to advise on the project.

 

Project timeline

• Technical investigations and research – Autumn 2023 
• Early stakeholder engagement – Winter 2023 
• Prepare the draft plan - Winter 2023 
• Community consultation of draft plan - Spring 2023 
• Feedback considered - Late 2023 
• Final plan released:  Early 2024 
• Planning for Fishermans Jetty rebuild: Underway ** 
  
    
  Timelines are a guide only and may be subject to change. 
  
   ** Further information around the timing for the rebuild will be announced as this project progresses. 

Document library

• Download the Fishermans Jetty Heritage Review 2023
• Download the Stakeholder Engagement Key Findings Report (July 2023)
• Download the November 2023 Community Update

Staying updated

For general enquiries email info@parks.vic.gov.au or call us on 13 1963.

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Related information 

Parks Victoria is currently undertaking a local port area planning process for Sorrento, Williamstown and St Leonards in Port Phillip and Rhyll in Western Port. A final plan for Sandringham Harbour was released in late 2022 and being used to guide the rebuild of Hampton Pier.

Parks Victoria is the local port manager for Port Phillip, Western Port and Port Campbell. The three local ports combined include 263,000 hectares of waterway, marine protected areas, channels, piers and jetties, moorings and aids to navigation.

Places to visit Mornington Pier

 

FAQs

Why is the plan needed? 
Over the last ten years there has been significant investment in the replacement and upgrade of Mornington Pier and landside infrastructure, with further funding for the replacement of Mornington Fishermans Jetty committed in the 2022-23 Victorian Budget. To ensure the best outcome from this investment, a local port area plan is being developed. The plan confirms replacement of Fishermans Jetty preserving the heritage values of the area, as well as ensuring that the harbour’s access channels continue to provide safe access for the vessels today, while catering for potential future operators, tourism and commercial needs.  
 
What is the project? 
This project is about engaging with stakeholders and the community to understand how they use the harbour, what challenges they experience and ideas for the future, to help inform the development of a plan for the harbour. It will define the vessel fairways in compliance with the relevant Australian Standard, confirm a future for the pier and jetty infrastructure, and provide direction regarding the future of the swing moorings and berths which Parks Victoria currently manages within the harbour in consideration of future activations. 

What are the steps and processes involved in preparing the plan? 

What does the project include? 
The planning process will consider the following known challenges and other relevant matters that are raised throughout the process.  This includes: 

• Anticipated impacts of accommodating the berthing and safe movement of larger vessels such as Tall Ships and a commercial passenger ferry.
• Maritime safety and compliance with relevant standard for access channels.
• Ensuring any modifications to the local port area do not impact on access to a rebuilt Fishermans Jetty or other new infrastructure.
• Location and number of berth and moorings for optimal use. 

 

What are the plan's implications for the provision of swing moorings in the harbour?
To ensure the fairways comply with the relevant Australian Standard, some swing moorings will need to be relocated or removed.  Stakeholder engagement and technical advice identified an issue with the widths of fairways required to accommodate larger commercial vessel access to the berths in the inner harbour area. This means that there will be less vessels moored and berthed in the harbour. The proposed options aim to minimise the impact on the number of vessels to be moored or berthed in the harbour by reinstating Fishermans Jetty and proposing a new berthing infrastructure.

How are community and stakeholders being consulted? 
A stakeholder focus group held in July 2023 provided early input to inform and help shape the draft plan. The focus group comprised participants who represented the views and interests of key local stakeholders and user groups of the harbour. The participants worked with Parks Victoria to discuss the current value, issues and future vision of Mornington Harbour. Early input from this group has helped inform the draft plan. View the Stakeholder Focus Group key findings report.  The wider community can tell us more during a public consultation stage of the draft plan. The consultation will be delivered on Engage Victoria and promoted locally to encourage input. To be kept informed, subscribe to receive updates here. This feedback will be considered and included in the final plan. 

Who is responsible for managing Mornington Harbour and Fishermans Jetty? 
Parks Victoria is responsible for the management of the harbour and on-water infrastructure, as both the Port Manager for the local port of Port Phillip and as the Committee of Management for the Crown Land Reserve. Mornington Peninsula Shire Council manage the public boat ramp and car park and is the landlord for Mornington Yacht Club. The slipway falls within the Mornington Yacht Club lease area. 

Why was Fishermans Jetty closed? 
Following an inspection by maritime engineers, the Fishermans Jetty was closed due to advanced structural deterioration. The jetty has failed and is unsafe for pedestrians and berthing vessels. It has been closed since November 2020. 

When will Fishermans Jetty be restored and re-opened for public use? 
Planning for critical repairs to restore and reopen this important maritime asset is underway. The project will reinstate berthing for vessels and ensure the pier is able to be visited and enjoyed by the community once again. This project is being funded through the Victorian Government’s 2022-23 $18 million investment package towards critical pier infrastructure upgrades across the state.  Timing on work to replace the jetty will be announced as the project progresses depending on design and construction phases.  Removal of the current jetty is necessary because of the redevelopment. 

How will the plan be implemented? 
The plan sets out a future direction for each priority local port area and will be used to direct and prioritise future investment. Any changes proposed by the plan will need to be further developed and costed. As a first step for Mornington Harbour, funding has been committed for a rebuild of Fishermans Jetty that will preserve the heritage values of the area and progress a key objective of the plan to improve harbour safety, function and access. 

How will the heritage values of the precinct be considered in the plan? 
As part of the planning process, Parks Victoria engaged an appropriately qualified heritage consultant to provide advice on the heritage values of Fishermans Jetty.  Consideration has been given to the historical and social significance of the jetty uncovered through the technical investigations and early stakeholder engagement phase of this project, and its replacement sympathetic to its original characteristics is confirmed in the plan. 

How can I participate? 
Return to this project page to learn about consultation opportunities. You can also subscribe to be kept informed about project news and upcoming consultation or engagement opportunities.