Warrnambool council appoints designer for breakwater and harbour upgrades

Warrnambool City Council has awarded the tender to the specialist port and coastal maritime engineering consultancy company for $381,742.90 including GST.

The state government has provided the council with $720,000 for the delivery of the project.

The package of design works includes:

Cr Peter Hulin welcomed the appointment.

"I am sure the people of Warrnambool will breathe a sign of relief," he said.

"It's incredible to think for 10 years we have been trying to get this up. It's quite staggering.

"If you look at the state of the breakwater itself, it's quite staggering. It's appalling. The state government needs to fund the work that needs to be done. We have wasted enough money in the past. This is a very credible company."

Cr Sue Cassidy said she was "very happy" to see plans for the harbour upgrades progressing.

"We are a step closer to go to the state government to get funding for a safer ramp," she said.

Cr David Owen thanked mayor Tony Herbert for bringing user groups together to formulate a plan for the precinct.

"The breakwater is in a terrible state," he said.

"You actually don't realise how bad it is until you see the back of it."

The council also voted to approve Brand Architects for the provision of design services for the Reid Oval redevelopment.

The cost is $585,200 including GST.

Cr Cassidy said it was the council's next milestone project.

"We are on time with this project and I'm sure everyone would agree we want to do it once and do it right," she said.

Cr Herbert said it was a big project for the city and it had full state government support. "Doing it correctly for the long term is very important," he said.