The local community in Port Elliot is rallying after the Alexandrina Council removed the pontoon from Horseshoe Bay, leaving residents and tourists concerned ahead of the summer season. The pontoon has been a fixture in the bay since 2013, and its removal has left locals worried about the impact on the bay’s summer appeal. Many believe bringing the pontoon back is essential to maintaining the community’s coastal experience.
The pontoon was originally placed in the waters of Horseshoe Bay for the summer months and removed during winter. Over time, it remained in place year-round, with ongoing support from the Port Elliot Surf Life Saving Club. The club’s trained scuba divers regularly maintained the pontoon to ensure its safety, but eventually, responsibility for its upkeep was handed over to the Alexandrina Council.
In September this year, a powerful storm hit Port Elliot, breaking the pontoon’s moorings and washing it ashore. The council recovered the pontoon, saying it would be inspected for potential repairs. At the time, they indicated it might be returned for summer, but with the pontoon still not back in the water, community hopes have dwindled. Recently, the council held a confidential meeting to discuss its future, but details will remain under wraps until an official council meeting on Monday November 18th.
Locals feel the council may be weighing the potential cost of maintaining the pontoon, especially in challenging financial times. With ongoing inspections, regular mooring checks, and safety measures required, keeping the pontoon afloat would certainly be expensive. But many are arguing the pontoon is worth the investment, both for its recreational value and its role in improving safety in the area.
Belinda Sullivan, an advocate from the Port Elliot Town and Foreshore Improvement group, has emerged as a leading voice behind the movement to bring the pontoon back.
“I think the feeling in the community is that it’s a really good thing to have from a recreation point of view, and also from a safety point of view,” Belinda says.
“It gives people a resting point. All of the kids jump off the jetty and then swim across to the pontoon. It’s used by the nippers groups, it’s used by VACSWIM – it’s got a really wide appeal.
“We have a group of 80 year olds that go out at six o’clock every morning year round. Its absence will be very sorely missed.”
Looking ahead, the community is hopeful that a compromise can be reached. At the upcoming council meeting, Belinda Sullivan will be advocating for the pontoon’s return, ideally for the summer months when it’s most in demand. She suggests a possible solution could be for the pontoon to be in place from December to February; a period that would cover the peak summer season as well as the important swimming and water safety lessons for school groups.
“The bottom line is, we really want to work with council to try and find a solution,” Belinda says. “Our approach is that it’s something really valuable for tourists and locals. Is there a way we can compromise and find a solution to keep it here?”
With the community rallying behind the pontoon, there’s hope a resolution will be reached and the special attraction can continue to serve as an integral part of the Port Elliot coastal experience for years to come.
For more information and updates, stay across the Alexandrina Council’s website and Facebook.
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