General News
1 September, 2025
Ex-Jasper repair works
THE Bloomfield River pontoon and boat ramp badly damaged during ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the December 2023 floods are being rebuilt.
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 4km 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.
Member for Cook David Kempton said reinstating these facilities would restore safe access to the Bloomfield River for recreational users, commercial operators and emergency services.
“Fixing the pontoon will be completed in two stages, the first one starting later this month and the boat ramp will commence in October,” he said.
“The new pontoon and boat ramp will be stronger, able to handle weather events and will reduce the impact on the environment.”
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) is reinstating the river boating facilities in two stages:
Stage 1 – New pontoon (late August to early October 2025)
Stage 2 – Upgraded boat ramp (early October 2025 to early February 2026).
The project will deliver a new 15m aluminium pontoon, accommodating up to six dinghies, and a single-lane, 4m-wide concrete boat ramp, both purpose designed to better-withstand future weather events.
The design process carefully considered environmental impacts and site conditions, nsuring 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.
A MSQ spokesman said the organisation thanked the community for their patience as “we carry out these essential safety works”.
“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to improving Queensland’s marine
infrastructure and ensuring safer waterways for everyone,” he said.
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