Central Coast’s flagship wharf opens

by LukeAdmin

Woy Woy is now home to a state-of-the-art wharf featuring a floating pontoon, accessibility features, solar lighting, and smart benches with mobile phone charging capability.

The new Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf – the largest wharf project ever completed for the Coast – is designed to rise and fall with Brisbane Water’s varying tide conditions to ensure access in most weather conditions.

Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said the new wharf will improve the daily commute for many community members and will also be popular with locals across the region and visitors.

“The original wharf would become submerged during King Tide’s and severe weather conditions, but the new wharf is designed to ensure this no longer occurs.

Using a floating pontoon allows the wharf to rise and fall with the tide conditions served up by Brisbane Water and this ensures access to ferry services, even during challenging weather conditions.

“We have also future-proofed this important amenity by ensuring it can dock vessels up 35-metres and 250 tonnes.

“Additional features of the wharf include mounting points for wheelchair lifting devices on the pontoon, covered pontoon gangway and passenger shelter, complete with solar lighting.

“We have also made a number of improvements to the immediate surrounds including a boardwalk made from recycled plastic decking, dedicated fishing area, widened pathway, smart benches with mobile phone charging capability, banner poles and landscaping with salt tolerant trees.”

Mr Bolgoff added that this project has been delivered under challenging circumstances given the current COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions at times halting construction.

“Within the last week, Council has been able to have contractors on site to finalise the wharf project and is pleased to open this long-awaited wharf upgrade to the public.”

The new Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf was funded through $3.99million from the NSW Government’s Regional Communities Development Fund and $1.61million from Council.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf is exactly the type of project that the Regional Communities Development Fund was designed to deliver.

“The NSW Government’s investment in regional towns has helped communities with hundreds of projects just like this – ensuring they continue to be great places to live, work and play,” Mr Toole said.

“The new wharf and improvements to the surrounding area will boost liveability and go a long way in enhancing the Central Coast for locals and visitors alike, which is why I am continuing to back projects like this right across regional NSW.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch said the NSW Government was proud to contribute $3.99 million to the $5.6 million project.

“This is Central Coast Council’s largest wharf project ever undertaken and I want to congratulate the project team for getting the job done,” Mr Crouch said.

“The old wharf became submerged during king tides and quite frankly was not fit for purpose. The new floating pontoon will rise and fall with the tide to reduce disruption and improve disability access.

“It will also accommodate 35-metre vessels up to 250 tonnes, making it a significant asset to the Central Coast Ferries service and the wider Woy Woy community.

“Investing in public infrastructure helps to improve the surrounding area, support local businesses and boosts liveability for local residents, which is why I am committed to supporting projects like this right across the Central Coast.”

Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf is one of serval recent wharf upgrades completed by Council with funding from the NSW Government including Davistown, Empire Bay, Spencer and South Tacoma.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf is a facility the Coast can be proud of.

“The opening of this flagship wharf for the Coast will be welcome news for commuters who will use the amenity daily but it is also great news for the Coast more broadly,” Mr Hart said.

“It is a highly functional resource but also has aesthetic appeal and will draw more locals and visitors to Woy Woy and its many culinary and retail delights.”

Key features of new Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf

  • Floating pontoon to ensure community members and visitors can access ferry services and facilities in most tide and weather conditions
  • Mounting points for wheelchair lifting devices on the pontoon
  • Covered pontoon gangway and passenger shelter
  • Dedicated fishing area located on the boardwalk at the corner of The Boulevarde and Brisbane Water Drive
  • Widened pathway with new footpath and boardwalk along part of The Boulevarde and Brisbane Water Drive
  • Boardwalk constructed with decking made from recycled plastic
  • Solar lighting along the pontoon and covered gangway and in the covered passenger shelter
  • Smart benches with mobile phone charging capability
  • Standard benches
  • Banner poles
  • Landscaping including salt water tolerant trees

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