Gipps Street bridge replacement project

New renders based on final concept designs for the Gipps Street Bridge have been released, giving the community its first glimpse of how the new river crossing will look.

The new images can be viewed by clicking here.

The designs respond directly to community feedback, which called for the new bridge to reflect the current structure and retain the heritage character of the area.

The new bridge will feature a diamond profile top handrail and will be white, in a nod to the current structure. Two lookout areas will feature bluestone paving, reflecting the prominence of the stone across the Port Fairy region, while the concrete blade piers will be stamped to mimic bluestone. Lighting options that can change colour to mark community events are also being explored.

The pedestrian path will remain on the upstream side to connect to the existing footpath network. It will be wider to allow easier passing and feature wayfinding downlighting to improve safety at night. The new bridge deck will also include dedicated cycling lanes on both sides, improving safety for cyclists.

Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett said the design retained the bridge’s familiar look and feel while meeting modern construction, design and safety standards.

“Overwhelmingly, the community told us they wanted the new bridge to look like what’s already there,” he said.

“Like many people, I was nervous about the bridge losing its character, but after seeing the designs, I’m pumped with how it’s going to look – it’s got the character of the old bridge, but with some fantastic new additions I think the community will love.”

Cr Lockett said signage in the new lookout areas would tell the story of the bridge and where possible, stone and timber from the current bridge would be saved and reused for interpretation or landscaping.

He said applications for the necessary works permits had been lodged. Once approved, timelines for construction and closures would be announced with an early 2027 start still the target.

“This is an exciting project, but it comes with challenges. A closure is expected for up to eight months, and Council is working on a plan to manage that period,” Cr Lockett said.

“It’s a critical one-in-100-year project and a full closure is unavoidable. The Bridge Closure Management Plan is in draft, and we are drawing on information gathered at drop-in sessions, through the community reference group, and from businesses and clubs to make sure all our bases are covered.

“Once the draft is complete, we will release it for community feedback and make any adjustments needed. We have already taken on board feedback about improving footpaths and the areas around the footbridge, because it’s about to get a whole lot more use.”

“Emergency services will be a huge part of this too, and we’re actively working with them.”

More than 100 people attended a community drop-in session in Port Fairy on Wednesday night, where plans and renders were on display, giving community members the opportunity to hear from and provide feedback to Council’s project team.

Cr Lockett said further sessions would be held in the coming months as the project gathered pace.

“We are a strong, resilient community, and working together, we’ll manage this challenge brilliantly,” he said.

The community will be kept informed at every step via Engage Moyne, regular updates on social media, advertising in local media, letterbox drops and newsletters, as well as the three notice boards at Railway Place, the eastern side of the footbridge and at the East Beach amenities block.

Updated design concepts for the new bridge have been released and can be accessed via the Documents section. Council is currently developing artists impressions of how the new bridge will look and they will be available at the community Information Session on September 2 and online via this website.

Council is engaging directly with all emergency services ahead of the Gipps Street Bridge closure, and the safety of the Port Fairy community remains our priority.

A meeting was held recently with locally based emergency services - Victoria Police, CFA, SES, Ambulance Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, Marine Rescue and Moyne Health - following a briefing to the Regional Municipal Emergency Management Committee as part of bridge works planning.

Discussions covered the bridge closure's impacts on services, options to manage those impacts including detours and travel times, project liaison and communication, and ongoing support and cooperation. Emergency management will be a key part of the Bridge Closure Plan, now in development and to be released publicly in coming weeks.

It is acknowledged that the works will impact response times, and that is exactly why these discussions have begun early. The proposed closure is a significant change for the community, and Council is working with emergency services on the response and mitigation measures needed to give the community confidence that access, traffic and emergency management impacts have been carefully considered and planned for.

The river crossing is expected to be closed for up to six months during construction, with residents and emergency services detouring via the Princes Highway and Woodbine Road to Griffiths Street. We understand this is inconvenient, but a full closure is unavoidable for a project of this scale. In successfully securing vital Federal Government funding support Council can now proceed with replacing the Gipps St bridge in a well-controlled and planned manner. Further traffic arrangements will be provided as part of the project's Traffic Management Plan.

Noticeboards have been installed around Port Fairy to help keep the community informed about the Gipps Street Bridge project.

You can find the noticeboards at:

• East Beach toilet block
• Griffiths Street at the ramp to the footbridge
• Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre

These noticeboards will provide residents and visitors with the latest project updates, key milestones and important information, and will mirror information available from the project page on Council's Engage Moyne website.

Moyne Shire Council hosted a Gipps Street Bridge Community Reference Group meeting on 27 July 2026. Community representatives joined chair Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett, Cr Myra Murrihy and members of Council’s project management team,

Please refer to Documents area of this page for:
- Meeting 27 July 2026 agenda and presentation
- Meeting 27 July 2026 minutes

The community is also welcome to continue to post questions about the project via the Q&A section on this page; via email to which Council will respond directly; or which can also be tabled at future Community Reference Group meetings.

The next meeting has been scheduled for 1pm, 21 September 2026.

Design and construction contracts have been signed for Port Fairy’s new Gipps Street Bridge, marking a major step towards the replacement of the critical river crossing.

Following a competitive tender process, Council endorsed the appointment of Murray Constructions Pty Ltd to undertake the design and construction of the new bridge, with contracts finalised and signed this week.

Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett said the project is a critical investment in the town’s future.

“This is a major step forward for this vital project and an important investment in critical infrastructure for Port Fairy,” Cr Lockett said.

“The existing bridge has served us well for more than a century, but it is no longer fit for purpose. This new bridge will improve safety, connectivity and reliability for residents, businesses and visitors.”

The new bridge will be a reinforced concrete structure designed to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, whilst also improving flood resilience.

The existing timber bridge, built in the early 1900s, has reached the end of its serviceable life and is currently subject to load and speed restrictions. Independent assessments confirmed that replacement is the only viable long-term solution.

The project is supported by $5 million through the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, alongside a $2.75 million contribution from Council. The total project cost is $7.75 million.

“We’re grateful to Senator Raff Ciccone for his support on this critical infrastructure project.”

Cr Lockett said Murray Constructions demonstrated strong capability and experience in delivering similar projects, and their tender was within budget.

“Their proven track record and practical approach give us confidence this project will be delivered efficiently and to a high standard,” he said.

Work will now begin on the functional design phase ahead of key approval applications to Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.

Construction is expected to take up to ten months, with demolition and construction timelines to be confirmed as planning progresses. A full bridge closure is expected to be in place for a period of up to six months.

Cr Lockett said community input would continue to shape the project.

“We understand how much the current bridge has meant to people over the years and the new design will acknowledge its history with certain design elements," he said.

“We’ve heard the community also values safe walking and cycling access, and we’ll continue to reflect that in the final plans.”

“Council is fully aware of the disruption construction will have to residents, visitors, businesses, and sporting clubs, and through the the dedicated Community Reference Group we have commenced community meetings about how we can best navigate this process” said Cr Lockett.

Council will provide regular updates throughout the project via the Engage Moyne website, social media, local media, signage and the Community Reference Group.

Replacing a bridge is a huge project which requires a significant amount of planning and preparation before works can begin on site. This work has been occurring behind the scenes since $5 million in funding was secured from the Federal Government, which confirmed the replacement project would proceed.

To date the following essential tasks have been completed:

▪ Relocation of telecommunication assets

▪ Secured project funding through the Federal Government’s Safer Local Road Program

▪ Developed Communication & Engagement Summary Plan and resources

▪ Community engagement on concept plan/design

▪ Started liaison with VicRoads, DEECA, CMA and other authorities

▪ Audit of required permits and approvals - ongoing

▪ Engagement with Wannon Water on temporary and permanent water and sewer supply

▪ Established Community Reference Group

▪ Formalised project management, funding setup and governance activities (PCG)

▪ Completed Environmental Assessment Report

▪ Completed Geotechnical Report

▪ Completed flood modelling

▪ Prepared Procurement and Probity Plan

▪ Development of tender specification and documents

▪ Management of public tender process

▪ Currently undertaking tender evaluation

Each of these steps are critical to the project progressing and the replacement project commencing within proposed time frames. So while it may not look like there is any progress, there has been plenty happening quietly, behind the scenes.

Moyne Shire Council hosted a Gipps Street Bridge Community Reference Group meeting on 19 May 2026. Community representatives joined chair Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett and members of Council’s project management team, as well as representatives from contractor Murray Construction.

Please refer to Documents area of this page for:
- Meeting 19 May 2026 agenda
- Meeting 19 May 2026 presentation
- Meeting 19 May 2026 minutes

The community is also welcome to continue to post questions about the project via the Q&A section on this page; via email to which Council will respond directly; or which can also be tabled at future Community Reference Group meetings.

The next meeting has been scheduled for 1pm, 27 July 2026.

Moyne Shire Council held the first Gipps Street Bridge Community Reference Group meeting on 2 March 2026. Community representatives were selected from an Expressions of Interest process undertaken in October 2025. The Group is chaired by Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett with members of Council’s project management team also in attendance.

Please refer to Documents area of this page for:
- Meeting 2 March 2026 agenda and presentation
- Meeting 2 March 2026 minutes

The community is also welcome to continue to post questions about the project via the Q&A section on this page; via email to which Council will respond directly; or which can also be tabled at future Community Reference Group meetings.

The next meeting has been scheduled for 2pm, 11 May 2026.