A new pontoon and gangway will soon be built on the Mary River near the Wide Bay Rowing Club, replacing infrastructure damaged beyond repair in the 2022 floods. The project is being funded through the Australian and State Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements – Recreation and Community Assets Funding Program. At its meeting today, Fraser […]
A new pontoon and gangway will soon be built on the Mary River near the Wide Bay Rowing Club, replacing infrastructure damaged beyond repair in the 2022 floods.
The project is being funded through the Australian and State Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements – Recreation and Community Assets Funding Program.
At its meeting today, Fraser Coast Regional Council awarded the $1.855 million tender for the Maryborough Rowers Pontoon project to The Marina Specialist Pty Ltd (trading as Marine Structures).
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said Maryborough had a deep connection to the sport of rowing, with the Wide Bay Rowing Club’s history dating back to 1881.
“The Wide Bay Rowing Club achieved a famous victory 100 years ago, winning the prestigious 1924 King Cup, one of Australian rowing’s most historic and competitive events,” he said.
“The club continues to thrive today and maintains strong ties with Maryborough State High School, fostering the next generation of rowers.”
Cr Seymour said that since the 2022 floods, a temporary pontoon had provided small boat access to the Mary River, while the club also used Tinana Creek for training, including school rowing activities for larger quad boats.
“The process of replacing the pontoon has been thorough due to the complexities of designing a flood-resilient structure within the environmentally sensitive Great Barrier Reef riverine area,” he said.
“We thank the Wide Bay Rowing Club for their patience and valuable input into the design of the new pontoon.”
The new pontoon and gangway system will be designed for greater resilience, with features to withstand moderate flooding and a release mechanism to limit damage during major flood events.
The scope of works includes:
- Clearing vegetation and removing existing structures to prepare the site;
- Fabricating the pontoon, gangway and headstock;
- Installation of the pontoon, gangway and headstock, including pile installations; and
- Restoring and turfing disturbed areas upon project completion.
Work is expected to start in 2025 with the timing dependent on State Government development approvals.
