MURRWILLUMBAH ROWING CLUB

The tragic Northern New South Wales Flood in February 2022 caused significant damage throughout the northern rivers and its various community towns, with significant and long-lasting impacts on community infrastructure.

The Tweed river flooding was so great that almost seven meters of river beach access used by the Murwillumbah Rowing Club was washed out leaving a two meter drop into the river making it impossible to launch rowing crafts, having a significant impact on the local community and various rowing clubs which used the access for their sports.

Thanks to the fabulous work done by members of the Murwillumbah Rowing Club, the local member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP and the NSW Office of Sports - through their essential community sports asset program 2022-2023 - collectively helped deliver a new purpose-built launching ramp.

Scavenger Supplies (Grating FRP Australia) refined the conceptual design view by club member Michael Mills to create a 24-metre by 9.5-meter  ramp from fibreglass re-enforced polymer structural members and grating nonslip surface, with the lowest point of the ramp being permanently submerged, even at low tide.

Twelve months after completion, the ramp experienced the impact of flooding generated by Cyclone Alfred in April. The ramp withstood the flooding, achieving the design requirements not only for structural capacity, but more broadly the impact for the Murwillumbah Rowing Club and the wider community as a whole.

The club has seen significant growth in membership along with an association with local schools where rowing has been introduced as part of their sports program, as well as the club has return to hosting regattas. The Local Council member also involved with this project along with the noted the impact of increased tourism during these events.

Scavengers Supplies wished to thank the Murwillumbah Rowing Club and the community of Murwillumbah for their faith in the presentation and their open and warm hospitality during their time during installation .