After the remaining heavy equipment was hauled away from the Flinders Pier yesterday, Parks Victoria finally released a public announcement late in the afternoon explaining its decision to pull-out the Contractors at such short notice.

The explanation offered is that the repairs needed are ‘not within the current project scope and budget.’  This is in contradiction to the Minister Melissa Horne’s Media Release dated 24 November 2025 (5 months ago)  informing Victorians that Flinders Pier was ‘…part of the Labor Government’s $18 million investment to restore some of the state’s most historic piers.’  Approximately $1.5m had also been earmarked for repairs to the Flinders Pier in an earlier State Budget.

The update goes on to say that unforeseen damage had been discovered to the old beams, crossheads and pile tops. However no mention is made of the serious termite infestation that Parks Victoria identified in its own Condition Report as far back as 2022 which includes coloured photographs of the damaged beams and cross-heads. Furthermore, the application from Parks Victoria to Heritage Victoria in 2025 already anticipated ‘the replacement of most of the timber deck and beams and localised replacement of deteriorated crossheads and piles.’

Parks Victoria omitted to mention the Minister’s statement which promised that ’the upcoming works will incorporate the installation of new piles, beams, crossheads, capping beams and decking;’  suggesting that the scope of the works was well understood before work even started.

Parks Victoria also stated that the  ‘full length of the timber inner section will need to be replaced.’ This is not new information. The Heritage Victoria application from Parks Victoria dated 12 February 2025, explains that there needed to be ‘a full extraction/demolition and replacement of all piles’. Which of course means everything those piles support needs to come off.

Finally, the statement makes an ominous warning: ‘We will rebuild some of the inner timber section’. We don’t know what this means. However, Parks Victoria needs to be reminded of its obligations under the Heritage Victoria permit which requires full, like for like replacement.

While all of us hold our local, hard working Park Rangers in high regard, we are concerned by the behaviour of the organisation’s leadership. Among the stated values of Parks Victoria, are (i) providing high quality services to the Victorian Community; (ii) being honest, open and transparent in all dealings; and (iii) striving to earn and sustain public trust at the highest level.

We urge Parks Victoria to look at its handling of the historic Flinders Pier, and ask itself whether these values are being upheld.

For your interest see Condition-Assessment-Report Parks Vic 2022