Work on the new St Kilda Pier will begin soon with the appointment of the lead construction partner following a two-stage public tender process. Minister for Ports and Freight, Melissa Horne, announced on 17 November that Simpson Constructions would construct the $53 million St Kilda Pier Redevelopment project.

Construction alongside the existing St Kilda Pier is scheduled to start in early 2022, with the new pier due to be completed by early 2024. Parks Victoria in partnership with the Department of Transport is delivering the rebuild of the St Kilda Pier.

The new pier will feature public access for the community and visitors out onto the bay, improved views of St Kilda and the city skyline, better protection and viewing area for the Little Penguins, a wider disability compliant walkway, new toilets, tiered seating and preservation of the precinct’s heritage features. The pier will be constructed from concrete and timber and extend about 450 metres with a 50-year design life.

What impacts will there be on the pier’s Little Penguin colony?

St Kilda Pier breakwater is home to a colony of nearly 1,300 Little Penguins. A new viewing platform will be constructed (see image below) to improve penguin viewing and provide penguins with more protection. The platform is being designed to ensure that penguins can move freely without the current intrusions of humans. According to Parks Victoria works closely with Earthcare St Kilda to monitor and care for the penguin colony during construction, and penguin safety is the highest priority during construction.