Hoarding goes up

Permanent hoarding was installed by Development Victoria on March 12 around Central Pier to secure the now closed site.

The 125-metre hoarding runs along the frontage with Harbour Esplanade and has been supplemented with safety fencing along the water’s edge. A floating boom has also been installed at water level around the pier as a protective measure to prevent any material from entering the waterway over time.

“It is important to both secure and preserve the existing site while we consider the next steps for Central Pier, recognising it will take some time before we understand what that future might look like,” Group Head Precincts at Development Victoria Geoff Ward said.

“Just as the decision to close the structure was made in the interests of public safety, these protective measures are further reinforcement that safety remains paramount and will complement the 24/7 security arrangements on Central Pier.”

Development Victoria said that it had begun discussions with Heritage Victoria and other key stakeholders around the planning process involved in any redevelopment of the structure and that a community and stakeholder engagement program would soon come about.

Development Victoria announced the permanent closure of Central Pier in early January, following a 15-week assessment of the 100-year-old structure which determined that it could not be made safe for ongoing occupation •