Work to repair a damaged pontoon at Launceston's Seaport is yet to start

The current pontoons, used chiefly by the Sea Scouts and Navy Cadets, were installed in 2018 after the original structure was severely damaged in the 2016 floods.

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Four years later one pontoon were damaged by a fast-flowing North Esk River, and a boat was stuck beneath the gangway for several days.

City of Launceston acting mayor Matthew Garwood said the event had cost the council more than $1 million, and the pontoon was one of many flood recovery projects still in progress.

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"A tender for the pontoon maintenance and repair works is expected to be advertised next month, with works to follow once a successful contractor is appointed," Cr Garwood said.

Cr Garwood said this would not be a like-for-like replacement, and the council had comprehensive plans for the new pontoon.

"We'll replace the current timber decking on the Home Point pontoon with composite plastic decking, install new anchor chains and associated minor maintenance tasks," he said.

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"In combination with the repair work to the second pontoon, we'll also undertake modifications to the pontoon anchor arrangement to improve resilience in future flood events."

Chairperson of the 1^st Tamar Sea Scout Group Scott Lovell said it was good to see things moving in the right direction after the group had been deprived of river access since last October.

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"Unfortunately it has inconvenienced us not being able to launch boats over the summer months," Mr Lovell said.

"However, we understand work is progressing on an improved pontoon which is designed to withstand flooding situations much better.

"We are eagerly looking forward to it being repaired for spring when we start boating again."

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