Council warned on pontoon design

FRASER Coast Regional Council external services director Ron Smith told the Chronicle in December 2008 that during the construction of the public pontoon, a part of the bank at that location had slipped into the river.

As a result, at low tide there was insufficient water depth for the pontoon to float.

The former Maryborough City Council spent about $700,000, partly funded by the State Government, on pontoons for the public and the Maryborough Rowing Club.

Neville Foord from the Mary River Marina said the pontoons' builder, Foreshore Marine Construction, had warned the council the plans were not suitable for the site.

The council had commissioned Project Services, a section of the Department of Public Works, to plan, design and oversee the pontoon's installation.

“It lasted one tide. It got to the bottom of the tide and snapped the brackets,” Mr Foord said. “It happened exactly like they were told it was going to happen.”

Attempts to fix the pontoon failed.

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Pontoon goes to scrap