Mayor’s Statement – Frankston Pier Incident

Published on 23 October 2025

It is with profound sadness that I acknowledge two people who have tragically lost their lives today on Frankston Beach during extreme wind conditions. On behalf of the entire Frankston City community, I extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends and loved ones. We share in your grief and stand with you during this heartbreaking time.

This devastating event is a sharp reminder of the power of nature and the real risk posed by severe weather. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and other authorities have issued warnings of strong gusts, rough seas and dangerous conditions along our coast and foreshore this week. We urge everyone in our community – residents, visitors, fishers, walkers and beach-goers – to heed these warnings. If you’re heading outdoors, please check the latest BoM weather alert at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210.

In light of today’s tragedy, I want to assure the community that Frankston City Council is committed to beach and foreshore safety. Over the upcoming summer season, we will be enhancing our patrols along the beach, pier and foreshore precincts, including additional lifeguard hours, increased signage around hazardous conditions and clear communication when access should be restricted. Our aim is always to keep people safe, especially when conditions change rapidly.

I'd like to thank everyone involved in the courageous rescue effort this afternoon, and our thoughts remain with everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, coordinate with emergency services and ensure our community is supported. At this time, I ask everyone to stay safe, remain vigilant, and if in doubt, stay off the water and away from exposed coastal structures until conditions improve.

Mayor Kris Bolam JP

Frankston City Mayor