Fact Sheet Western Weirs Program
WaterNSW is developing a Preliminary Business Case for the holistic management and operation of the weirs in the Barwon-Darling unregulated and Lower Darling regulated systems to support remote community water supplies and other benefits.
BACKGROUND
The Western Weirs Program covers the WaterNSW is investigating a holistic approach Barwon-Darling River which comprises both to the management of weirs in the far west. the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water The investigation outcomes are expected to Source and the Lower-Darling Regulated River recommend WaterNSW assume the ownership Source, from Mungindi to Wentworth. of weirs, upgrade weirs to become gated There are over 29 weirs along the Barwon- structures (regulators), provide fish passages, Darling River and the adjoining tributaries. and continue to operate and maintain the WaterNSW owns a number of weirs in the new regulators. system, however ownership of the other weirs Once implemented, the Program is expected is unclear. to provide for enhanced water delivery The current infrastructure is also known efficiency, resulting in improvements to to have a number of deficiencies from river connectivity, subsequently leading to poor condition of weirs, no system level improved long-term water availability and functionality, flow regulation limitations, town access for far west regional communities. water supply and security concerns and unclear responsibility of structures.
More information is available at waternsw.com.au/drought MAP OF THE BARWON-DARLING RIVER SYSTEM
BarwonDarling MUNGINDI MUNGINDI Queensland WEIR N CAMILAROY WEIR Key PRESBURYS WEIR New South Wales Major towns MOGIL MOGIL CULGOA RIVER COLLARENEBRI Weirs CALMUNDI WEIR River system WALGETT PAROO RIVER BREWARRINA WEIR DARLING RIVER COLLARENEBRI Barwon Darling Valley WEIR WARREGO RIVER BOURKE BARWON RIVER WALGETT NAMOI RIVER River Catchments TILPA WEIR WOORAWADIAN LOUTH BOURKE WEIR BREWARRINA WEIR WEIR
CASTLEREAGH RIVER
UPSTREAM BOGAN RIVER TILPA MACQUARIE RIVER LOUTH WEIR
DOWNSTREAM LOUTH WEIR WILCANNIA
MAP OF THE LOWER-DARLING RIVER SYSTEM LowerDarling DARLING RIVER WEIR 24 (TILPA) LowerDarling N DARLING RIVER MENINDEE- WEIR 24 (TILPA) Key PAMAMAROO N INLET Major towns REGULATOR MENINDEE- PAMAMAROO DARLING RIVERTALYAWALKA CREEK Key River system BROKEN INLET HILL MENINDEE MENINDEEREGULATORMAIN WEIR MajorRegulated towns river South INLET MENINDEE-WETHERELL Australia REGULATOR OUTLET REGULATOR RiverWeir system DARLING RIVERTALYAWALKA CREEK BROKEN MENINDEEMENINDEE OUTLET MENINDEE-CAWNDILLAHILL MAINREGULATOR WEIR Non WaterNSW Weir OUTLETSouth REGULATOR MENINDEE Regulated river INLET MENINDEE MENINDEE-WETHERELL OUTLET REGULATOR New South Wales Broken Hill to AustraliaMENINDEE LAKES- REGULATOR Weir MENINDEE WEIR 32 Wentworth Pipeline PACKERS CROSSING REGULATOR MENINDEE OUTLET MENINDEE-CAWNDILLA REGULATOR NonWater WaterNSW bodies Weir OUTLET REGULATOR POONCARIEMENINDEE New South Wales Broken Hill to River catchment MENINDEE LAKES- MENINDEE WEIR 32 Wentworth Pipeline PACKERS CROSSING REGULATOR
GREAT DARLING Water bodies ANABRANCH DARLING RIVER MURRAY RIVER WENTWORTH POONCARIE MILDURA BOX CREEK River catchment WENTWORTH WEIR EUSTON LOCK 10 (MDBA) ROBINVALE
GREAT DARLING BALRANALD GOLANABRANCH GOLDARLING RIVER MURRAY RIVER CREEK WEIRWENTWORTH BOX CREEK Victoria EUSTONMILDURA WEIR LOCK 15 (MDBA) WENTWORTH WEIR EUSTON LOCK 10 (MDBA) ROBINVALE GOL GOL BALRANALD CREEK WEIR Victoria EUSTON WEIR LOCK 15 (MDBA)
Estimated State Government has committed $4.2M for a cost: $500M Preliminary Business Case PROGRAM DETAILS KEY BENEFITS
If fully implemented, the Program is Key benefits expected to be achieved expected to deliver: from a holistic management and operation approach include: • Construction of a new integrated system of gated weirs to replace • Improved water resource current fixed weirs along the management and enhanced water river allowing WaterNSW to more security for all water users. effectively manage flow along the • Improvement of river health and whole system. reduction of no-flow events. • Provision of fish passage on all new • Better management of and existing fish barriers along the environmental flows (including first river. flush and low-flow scenarios). • Removal of weirs and structures that • Collective outcomes are likely to provide no benefit to the system. provide positive flow-on benefits and • Implementation of new ownership, revitalise the regional communities maintenance, operations and and economies in the remote far cost recovery arrangements for west of NSW. infrastructure and operations along • Improved asset condition and the river. capability. • Amendments of the Water Resource • Additional control barrier to enable Plan considering the new operational local water utilities to manage water regime on the river. quality for town supplies.
NEXT STEPS ESTIMATED TIMELINE 2020: WaterNSW will develop a Preliminary Business Community engagement Case for consideration and funding decision commences by Government including: Year one: • Investigation of the current asset condition, Investigation, modelling and ownership and operations - modelling the concept design existing system operations and identifying opportunities for optimisation End of year two: Program determination • Developing recommendations for a holistic approach to ownership, upgrades, Year three: operation and management of the Project level design, approvals western weirs. and determination From year four: Construction commences
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