Discarded pontoon taken to tip

A large discarded concrete covered pontoon has been retrieved from the Hawkesbury River and taken to Woy Woy tip by the Clean4Shore clean-up program.

It was removed from the rock between Eleanor and Gunyah beaches near the mouth of the Hawkesbury River on January 15, according to program co-ordinator Mr Graham Johnston.

"These pontoons just keep on appearing, either washed down the river from further upstream or simply discarded locally," he said.

"The exposed polystyrene was in very poor condition and was easily 'flaked' off into the river, not a good outcome."

The 1.2-tonne pontoon was retrieved with the help of oyster farmer Mr Rob Moxham, who steered a large barge to the site.

Mr Johnston said the pontoon was lifted onto the barge using its on-board crane, with the help Sydney University science student, Callum.

"The peak high tide allowed access for the large barge," Mr Johnston said.

"Returning to Rob's depot, the large crane lifted the pontoon from the barge onto the Clean4shore car trailer, where it was secured, and delivered to Woy Woy Tip for burial."

Mr Johnston said that Clean4shore had removed more than 50 similar pontoons from the waterway.

SOURCE:

Social media, 15 Jan 2021

Graham Johnston, Clean4Shore