The Port of Port Fairy board made the decision on the $2.8m project at its board meeting last week.

The decision will now be presented to the Moyne Shire Council meeting on August 25 for ratification. 

Announcing the decision, Port of Port Fairy chair and Moyne Shire mayor Colin Ryan said the new building would provide a significant investment in the town and a boost to tourism.

“I am looking forward to the next stage of this exciting project,” Cr Ryan said.

“The wharf area is important not only to local residents but the many thousands of holidaymakers who visit each year.

“For many tourists an enduring memory of their holiday to this area is eating fish and chips on the wharf while looking out to the Moyne River.”

The board’s decision follows an extended period of consultation which included a public meeting, written submissions and an opportunity for community members to present their ideas directly to board members at a recent meeting.

“The Port of Port Fairy Board considered all proposals and ideas before making its decision,” said Cr Ryan.

The $2.8 million project is to be funded by the Federal Government’s Stronger Regions Fund, as well as  the Port board.

The Port of Port Fairy Board will now work with architects to complete the design for the new building.

Cr Ryan said the project would take the area back to a greenfield site. “We’re starting afresh,” he said.

“We have gone with a new single-storey building...to take full advantage of the iconic location that it is.”

“It’s exciting, the possibilities for that location.”

Port of Port Fairy board member Bill Dalton said that, after such a long time, it was nice to finally have a decision on the future of the site.

The three other options that were originally mooted for the site included a $4.57m double-storey building, a $304,000 cosmetic upgrade of the existing building, and a $1.31m upgrade and structural improvements.

Those options were released for feedback in May after a public meeting last year expressed dissatisfaction with earlier redevelopment plans.

A petition had also circulated last year calling for a rethink of the initial development which was branded “underwhelming”.