The Bluff Boat Ramp has reached another milestone with the installation of the floating Western Pontoon to replace the deteriorating fixed one.

Last year, Invercargill City Council committed in its Long-term Plan to upgrade the Bluff Boat Ramp as part of the Bluff Tourism Masterplan.

Council Group Manager Infrastructure Erin Moogan said the old boat ramp had deteriorated and was no longer fit for purpose, restricting the types of boats that could launch from there.

The new design includes a jetty and two floating pontoons on either side of the ramp that will be able to withstand all weather.

Local contractor SouthRoads has been hard at work over the past few months completing the majority of civil engineering works needed for the ramp and is now working on the steps. Last month Supreme Siteworks poured concrete for the extension of the abutment the pontoon sits on, and engineering service E-Type installed the Western Pontoon and refit the final walkway sections.

Following this, E-Type will begin work on the Eastern Jetty. The Eastern pontoon has been fabricated, but before it is placed, the installation of the stairs and steel jetty, as well as carpentry works, will need to take place.

The Western Pontoon is complete and open for public use.

Moogan said she was excited to see the project wrapped up in time for summer.

“We know it has been a long time coming, but I can assure everyone that this new boat ramp and the pontoons will be a huge improvement on the old ones. ”

Stage one, the installation of the eastern and western pontoons, is expected to be finished up by November, before the beginning of stage two, which would consist of car parking and toilets, Moogan said.

For the duration of this project, Council has been engaging with the Bluff community, Bluff Yacht Club, recreational fishermen, and Southland Trailer Yacht Club to determine the needs of users and the design that would best fit everyone using it.