8th July 2027
We hope you have noticed we are back on the campaign the SAVE FLINDERS PIER….AGAIN. We are grateful to Charles Reis OAM for his dogged approach to getting the results we hope to get sooner than later.
We have been erecting Signs and we are so thankful fr the support for the Village businesses who have allowed us to display our message. ( Flinders Motel, Flinders Hotel, Village Cafe, Flinders Pharmacy, Alpaca Shop and others). If you would like a poster please email – communications@flindersvillage.com.au
See message from Charles:
Minister defies Heritage Victoria in Flinders Pier rebuild
FCA Members will be disappointed to learn that there is a second act to our Save Flinders Pier campaign.
Just when we thought that the story was over, the Minister for Ports, Melissa Horne surprised us with a plot twist by cancelling the re-building works and refusing to comply with Heritage Victoria’s permit conditions. The about-face by the Minister is without precedent.
If the Minister succeeds in getting her way, it could allow any other Minister or Government Department to likewise cancel Heritage projects on a whim.
The Minister’s explanation can best be described as flimsy. In her statement, she said that the pier was ‘…further deteriorated than a previous inspection report indicated.’ The previous inspection she is referring to is a Parks Victoria condition report in 2022 detailing termite activity. That was four years ago. The Minister seems surprised that the termite activity became worse in the intervening years.
Her statement continues: ‘The expanded scope of the restoration means that it will not be possible to rebuild the full length of the inner timber section.’
FCA members probably won’t need reminding that there can’t be any ‘expanded scope’, given the entire inner section was actually demolished over the Christmas period. The scope to re-build the Heritage listed Flinders pier hasn’t changed since then.
We have written to the Minister reminding her of a Media Release from her office dated 24 November 2025, describing the ‘Flinders Pier revamp’ as part of ‘… the Labor Government’s $18m investment to restore some of the State’s most historic piers.’
We have also written to the Premier; Heritage Victoria; and the National Trust asking for their support.
Eventually the rebuild of the Flinders Pier will be completed. The question is whether it will be with the help of Minister Horne complying with the law, or someone else.
Let’s hope common sense prevails.
Charles Reis OAM – Chair – Save Flinder Pier campaign
