Whitianga Ferry closed while pontoon replaced.

The Ferry Landing Wharf floating pontoon needs to be replaced, which means the Ferry service will need to be shut down for three days. Subject to weather this will be from Wednesday 5October through to Friday 7 October, with the plan to resume on Saturday 8th October.

We apologise to everyone for the inconvenience while the pontoon is replaced. A free bus service is being provided while the replacement works take place.

The bus service will run from 7.30am through to 8.30pm on the hour, from both the Ferry Landing and Whitianga Wharf. The first bus will commence from Ferry Landing and Whitianga Wharf at 7.30am. There will be one stop at the Cooks Beach Hall.

To view the timetable click here

"We looked at a variety of times and dates that we would be able to work on the replacement of the pontoon, which would be less disruptive to school students and outside of our peak visitor periods," says Alan Tiplady, our Council's Area Manager for Mercury Bay. "We know that there is going to be some people who will be inconvenienced,, but the pontoon needs to be replaced, and we have tried to work in with what suits the majority of the community around commuting and commitments."

"We also want to thank Whitianga Ferry Service owner Fred Acke for his support and involvement with the replacement works," says Mr Tiplady.

"I agree we must get the dock replaced before summer," says Fred Acke of Whitianga Ferry Services. "And while there will be some inconvenience, the safety of our passengers must come first. This will be the first three days the ferry has stopped running since the service went on strike around 90 years ago," says Fred.

The replacement of the 9m concrete pontoon is needed following a Conditions Assessment report earlier this year.

"The report recommended the pontoon needed to be replaced within the next 12 months due to wear and tear and deterioration to its condition," says Mr Tiplady. "We have a replacement pontoon stored and ready to go and so the plan is to do the work before Labour Weekend, which is when we start heading into our busy visitor period."

The old pontoon and its piles will be removed by barge. The new piles will be drilled and the new pontoon will then be barged into position and fixed to the installed piles. . The work is costing approximately $150,000.

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