The ferry, also called the Tuapeka Mouth Punt, is funded by the Clutha District Council under its road maintenance contracts and is treated much like a bridge. Use of the ferry is free of charge.
Council district assets manager Jules Witt said operation of the ferry was initially suspended on January 10 because of flooding and high flows on the Clutha River.
It was later suspended further as a result of damage to the ramp anchor point on the Tuapeka Mouth side.
Mr Witt said the punt had been due for planned maintenance under the council's bridge repairs contract for 2012-13, and would now remain out of operation until that maintenance was completed.
About $150,000 worth of repair and maintenance work is in the budget for the financial year, including replacing the timber deck and handrails on both ramps, tightening all bolts, replacing steel beams on one ramp and repainting the pontoon.
Constructing a new anchor system on the true left bank to help with easier operation in a flood was also in the budget.
Mr Witt said the budgeted work items were ''provisional items'', and exactly what work would be carried out on the punt this year would not be confirmed until the tender prices for the bridge repairs contract have been opened next week.
Work on the punt would be a priority once a contract had been awarded.
At this stage, it was expected the punt would be operational again by the end of March, he said.
The ferry is believed to be the last water-driven public punt in the southern hemisphere.
