Pontoons to be launched this week

Published on 11 April 2018

Two 10-tonne floating pontoons will be launched into the Tamar River by crane this week.

The pontoons are used by the TS Tamar Australian Navy Cadets and the 1st Tamar Sea Scouts, and have been refurbished off site as part of last year's upgrade of the Royal Park boardwalk.

The former timber surfaces have been replaced with non-slip fibreglass grid mesh, better suited to the launching of boats.

The pontoons both sustained serious damage in the June 2016 floods and have been almost entirely rebuilt, with only the floats and some steel work remaining from the original structures.

The Council will be taking advantage of high tide cycles during the week to launch the pontoons, with the first pontoon expected to be launched tomorrow morning, and the second later this week, assuming weather and water conditions remain favourable.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said a crane was already on site moving the pontoons into position, and he asked the public to be mindful of the work.

"There will be some small pedestrian detours in place around the work site this week, with a large crane operating, so we ask for people's patience," Mayor van Zetten said.

"We can only launch one pontoon per day, and we're hopeful we can get the first one ready and in position today so that we can launch it tomorrow morning at high tide.

"The second pontoon will follow later this week, again taking advantage of the high tide.

"The pontoons are being launched from Royal Park, and then they will be towed by barge into position near Home Point for the Navy Cadets and Sea Scouts to use."