Bloomfield River pontoon and boat ramp reinstatement works to commence

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is set to start reinstatement works on the Bloomfield River pontoon and boat ramp, which were badly damaged during ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the December 2023 floods, making them unsafe to use.

The pontoon was torn from its moorings during the extreme weather event, and swept down the river out to sea, eventually washing up on a beach about four kilometres away.

The boat ramp was also severely damaged when part of it collapsed into a scour hole caused by the flood, making it unusable and ultimately affecting safe boat access to the Bloomfield River.

MSQ is reinstating the Bloomfield River boating facilities in two stages. The first stage will cover construction of the new pontoon from late August to early October 2025 while the second stage will entail upgrading of the boat ramp from early October 2025 to early February 2026.

The project will deliver a new 15-metre aluminium pontoon, accommodating up to six dinghies, and a single-lane, four-metre-wide concrete boat ramp, both purpose designed to better withstand future weather events.

MSQ said the design process carefully considered environmental impacts and site conditions, ensuring the infrastructure is built to better withstand future weather events. This included addressing the significant challenge of securing the new facilities to the riverbank, which was heavily eroded during the 2023 flood.