St Kilda Pier Is Getting a $50.3 Million Penguin-Friendly Rebuild

St Kilda Pier is set to score a fresh look and more penguin-friendly surrounds, with the Victorian Government announcing plans to completely rebuild the long-standing landmark. Having nabbed a tidy $50.3 million in funding from the Victorian Budget 2019/20, the project will see the almost 50-year-old pier given a complete overhaul, including a new penguin viewing area.

As the area's star residents, the St Kilda penguin colony is a major focus of the rebuild, with plans designed to protect these little feathered mates, while also improving the experience for visitors.

Under the proposed rebuild, the new-look pier will curve out into the bay, boasting a dedicated penguin viewing area with tiered seating overlooking the water, plus new toilet facilities, more green space and sheltered areas to cope with that unpredictable Melbourne weather.

The new curved design will also make for a more protected swimming area setting, while also allowing for improved views of the birds as they make their nightly post-sunset waddle home.

An artist's impression of the curved St Kilda pier.

The plans for the new pier were chosen after extensive community consultation, with construction expected to kick off next year. The landmark currently sees around 6000 visitors each year.

The bayside suburb will also score further improvements, with the Victorian Government committing another $27 million to boost cyclist safety, installing a series of central safety zone bike lanes and Copenhagen-style kerbside bike lanes along St Kilda Road.

St Kilda Pier construction is slated to begin in 2020. For more information, head to the Parks Victoria website.

Image: Roberto Seba for Visit Victoria.