State government pledges $250,000 to repair storm-damaged Warrnambool breakwater

The funding - part of the Local Port Program - comes after Warrnambool City Council, which manages the breakwater on behalf of the government, previously estimated the repairs at $140,000.

The government said works to re-open closed sections of the pedestrian walkway would start soon. Substantial works to replace an older section of the low landing deck would begin after the peak summer period.

Sea swells in April tore railings off and stripped the 130-year-old breakwater of sections of concrete, making the structure unsafe for pedestrians.

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Warrnambool mayor Richard Ziegeler said the announcement was positive.

"It was a bit of a pleasant surprise for us," he said.

"The amount we got is generous, until you start this work you don't know what's involved underneath the substructure and all the rest of it. It's a fairly complicated engineering structure.

"We're happy that we got so much, it'll help us do a fair amount of restoration and clearly the state government have regarded it as an important icon for the south-west coast and an important icon for the whole Victorian coastal scene so we're very pleased that they regard it as important as we do and have given us enough money to do the job.

"We've got to get it to a point where it's safe for people to use because it's one of those things locals and tourists need to be able to use safely."

He said he didn't believe the higher-than-expected amount was prompted by uncovered structural faults.

"I don't think there's any underlying motive, I think they want to make sure it's done properly," he said.

"I think that's their attitude which I'll welcome."

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said the announcement was a "long time coming".

"It is disappointing that eight months after the storms, we still have sections of the breakwater inaccessible to the public but it is pleasing to see the government is finally acting," Ms Britnell said.

"This issue has been raised several times since April, both in parliament and directly to the minister.

"I have said all along that the breakwater is a state-owned asset and, as such, it was up to the government and not the Warrnambool City Council or its ratepayers to foot the bill."

While Ms Britnell welcomed the state government commitment, she said calls for an $11 million investment for substantial general upgrades to the breakwater - including $8 million for new rock armouring - would continue.

"The breakwater is an iconic structure for Warrnambool and it is incumbent on the government to ensure it is a safe facility for locals and visitors," Ms Britnell said.

In November, The Standard reported city council budget papers showed it expected to receive funding for the major works in 2024-25, with about $8 million of the cost to flow from external funding sources but the state government had made no commitments.

For now, the most immediate repairs will begin shortly on rendering and replacing handrails which will enable closed sections of the pedestrian walkway to be reopened for the community once again, following detailed assessment and planning and a long period of closure.

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