The pontoon is the first river hub to be delivered as part of Brisbane City Council’s $8 million, four-year program to provide mooring facilities at several points along the river.

Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said, until now, there had been no inner-city access for people to kayak, canoe, jet ski or stand-up paddleboard.

“The 25-metre long pontoon along Riverside Drive will be able to accommodate up to 10 vessels at a time,” he said.

“People will now be able to float straight into West End and dock their watercraft for up to two hours.”

Residents will also be able to fish off the pontoon, on a trial basis.

In 2016 the council said it was far from being at a point to provide operational approval for water taxis, but on Thursday Cr Schrinner said the West End pontoon could soon become a drop-off and pick up point for a new water taxi service.

It is understood as further hubs open along the rive the council hopes there would be interest from an operator to bring a water taxi service to Brisbane.

Two further river hubs will open in the coming months at New Farm and Durron Park, while further hubs have been proposed at New Farm Park and South Bank.