Warrnambool's breakwater suffers 'extensive' damage

For three years the city council has been lobbying for a $7 million upgrade to extend the rock armouring along the entire length of the structure in a bid to protect it by reducing the wave impact on it.

The damage to the end of the breakwater after the weekend's storm has been described as "extensive" by the council.

Marine engineers familiar with the breakwater have now been engaged to provide a detailed assessment of the damage.

A significant length of concrete capping was lifted from the top of the breakwater and thrown into the walkway railing, damaging the concrete facing below.

There are also large sections where the brickwork has been exposed due to the concrete facing failing with sections of concrete being washed into the bay.

Sections of the asphalt was also washed away, exposing the conduits containing electrical lighting cabling.

The council's city infrastructure director David Leahy said it was too soon to put a price tag on the damage bill.

"There is damage that we can see but there may be structural damage that is less obvious that we need to investigate further," he said.

"It may take a few weeks to ascertain the cost associated with the repairs."

The council has been in regular contact with the transport department and there are plans for an on-site meeting next week.

"The department understands we have a master plan for the port and is working with the relevant staff on how include the assessment needs into the overall improvement strategy," he said.

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"The breakwater is a state-owned asset and we anticipate that once we have finalised a report on the extent of the storm damage that we would have a discussion with the Victorian Government about funding repairs."

Mr Leahy said the department of transport had a number of damaged facilities across the state and was negotiating with insurers.

"This will hopefully enable council to recoup any expenses accrued during the assessment process," Mr Leahy said.

Mayor Vicki Jellie has urged people need to stay away from the breakwater until the council worked out what needed to be done.

"It's unbelievable what mother nature can do," she said.

"It seems to be in a dangerous state of disrepair at the moment judging by the photos."

Ms Jellie said she hoped that while the state government was looking to repair the damage, it may also step up to fund all the works needed to upgrade the structure.

"Something will have to be done. It can't sit like that," she said.

"It is an iconic part of Warrnambool, there's no doubt about that."

A report released by the council in 2018 showed that the structure had deteriorated so much that urgent works were needed within years.

Part of the plan to protect the iconic seawall was to extend the rock armouring along the structure by 400 metres with the report also warning that the consequences of failing to take action on repairs could be major, such as the collapse of part of the breakwater.

However, at the time a council spokesperson said that it was not "imminently dangerous".

A spokesperson for the state government said that the department of transport and Better Boating Victoria were working with the council to finalise design plans for boat ramp repairs and on the Breakwater Stabilisation project.

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