Weir upgrade to improve Hawkesbury-Nepean health - 27 April 2009
Minister for Water Phil Costa today announced the award of a $17.6 million contract to MacMahon Holdings Limited to upgrade 10 weirs along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.
Mr Costa said the works are part of the NSW Government’s $33 million program to allow for new environmental flows and improve fish passage in the river.
“Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon and Nepean dams will all be releasing new environmental flows at the beginning of 2010 to improve the health of the river,” Mr Costa said.
“To make sure the environmental flows can make it all the way downstream, we first need to make improvements to the weirs along the river so they don’t act like barriers to the flows.
“This involves installing environmental release outlets on eight weirs and installing or replacing fishways on 10 weirs along the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.”
Mr Costa said the weirs were installed at various points along the river over the past 100 years to provide water for irrigation, and will continue to do so.
“In modifying the weirs, rather than removing them completely, the NSW Government has struck the right balance in meeting the needs of the environment, the irrigation community, and the broader community,” he said.
The Member for Camden Geoff Corrigan welcomed the contract award saying it was another step forward in improving river health and the environment.
“The Hawkesbury-Nepean is an iconic natural asset of great significance to the community, especially Macarthur and Western Sydney,” Mr Corrigan said.
“Any works to improve the health of the river and community amenity is worthwhile. Government investment in infrastructure that creates jobs is also a big plus,” he added.
Summary of works
| Location | Works |
|---|---|
| Camden Weir, Sharpes Weir, Cobbitty Weir, Theresa Park Weir, Mount Hunter Weir |
Install environmental release outlet |
|
Menangle Weir, Brownlow Hill Weir, Wallacia Weir |
Install environmental release outlet |
|
Penrith Weir (ML) |
Replace existing fishway with a new vertical-slot fishway |
|
Douglas Park Weir |
Install new vertical-slot fishway |
Works is scheduled to start in a month, with each weir taking between four and eight months to complete. The weirs will continue to provide water for local irrigation while also allowing the environmental flows and fish to move through the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. During construction, there will be limited access to the areas surrounding the weirs.
