North Wharf pier reopens to public

Almost a year after abruptly closing without public notice, the pier along North Wharf Rd has reopened to the public.

A previously well-used space for local residents and office workers, the community can again access the pier for walking and cycling. 

In October 2020, Development Victoria (DV) — the state government’s property development agency delivering urban renewal — erected fencing around the northern edge of North Wharf, which is used as a berth for a number of charter boats, as well as heritage vessels Enterprize and Alma Doepel.

Repair work on “a number of timber piles” underneath the concrete deck at North Wharf was required as part of overall maintenance of water infrastructure in Docklands.

The sudden move caught many people off guard, including one operator who was initially locked out from accessing his boat. 

At the time, DV told Docklands News that the wharf would be fenced off to the public for around five months while engineers carried out remediation works.

This took longer than initially envisaged, however Geoff Ward, Group Head of Precincts at DV, told Docklands News last month that things were back to normal. 

“Development Victoria has recently completed its repair work of North Wharf to ensure the longevity of the piles, so people can enjoy the wharf safely for many years to come,” he said. 

“Work to repair and replace some timber piles underneath the wharf is now complete, and we thank the Docklands community and tenants of North Wharf for their cooperation and patience. We will continue to monitor the condition of the wharf and undertake repairs as necessary.” •