SchematicSchematic Diagramdiagram of of the the P proposedroposed Koond -Perricootarook-Perricoota For estForest Flood water Enhancement management Works structures

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R B a rb N er I N s E Noorong C r ee M

k A State Forest L

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TULLA ROAD O

M B a r be rs C C alf C reek reek Whymoul State Forest GANN ROAD C ow C r eek L itt le B a M r b u B e r W a r r r s a b C a k e y o r re o s e R l O k iv Pollack MOULAMEIN ROAD R v er e r i f v l Swamp e o r BARHAM w Downstream Regulators Western C proposed o w NSW option C

B r T a e h N e u r l BARHAM b k e e Levee C 0 5 10 r r s e Koondrook 78.8m e KOONDROOK C k K I L O M E T R E S r e Forest AHD e k OONDROOK ROAD L Thule Lagoons itt - K le B ar Thule ber s C State Forest k Thule Creek

C Regulator ro o Green Gully Return Channel and k e M State Forest Crooked Creek Regulator d yloc L C C reek itt le B re arb e er k s C re ek

COHUNA - K B C u

r o rr o M u M k U m U e R R d OONDROOK ROAD R b R C A u A re Y r Y e y R k I V R C E R MURRA Gunbower I Y V r ALLEY HIGHW V e AY Forest E e R k COHUNA G u nb Perricoota ow e Forest N r C re ek B Bullock Head Road u l lo c The Living Murray B k u

l l H Access Road o c Swan Lagoon k e Regulator He a ad d (Downstream) C re ek C Planned works in the Koondrook-Perricoota Forest r eek Swan Lagoon Existing Regulator Gully Toorangabby (Upstream) NSW Excavated Channel

M U R River Rd Kow Torrumbarry R A Bridge VICTORIA Y R Swamp Weir I VE R River Road GUNBOWER Torrumbarry Weir Torrumbarry Cutting and MURRA Regulator Y VALLEY HIGHW AY Planned works in the Koondrook-Perricoota Forest

The Living Murray as infrequently as once every 25 years. This would have a Progress to date devastating effect on the health of our forest. The Living Murray is one of ’s largest river The detailed design of the project is nearing completion restoration programs, a major step towards ensuring the The Living Murray proposal for the Koondrook-Perricoota and the environmental assessment document has Murray is a healthy working river into the future. Forest will achieve significant inundation of the forest with been completed. Detailed studies have been done on flows of only 3,500-6,000 ML/day over normal requirements, the forest’s ecology, soil types, groundwater, cultural Six sites along the River Murray have been identified and is planned to occur every 3 to 4 years if required (when heritage and hydrology. as priority icon sites, including Gunbower-Koondrook- water becomes available). Perricoota Forests. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2010. A construction period of approximately 40 weeks will Under The Living Murray, a program of works is being Planned Works see construction completed by winter 2011. developed at each of the icon sites to make sure that The Torrumbarry Weir provides an opportunity for water to be available environmental water is used efficiently and diverted into the upstream end of the Koondrook-Perricoota Further information ecological benefits are maximised. State Forest from where it can take a similar course to For further information on The Living Murray or the natural floodwaters through the forest. A 3.8 km channel The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New works proposed in the Koondrook-Perricoota State Forest, (‘Torrumbarry Cutting’) and a regulator is proposed to divert South Wales, Victoria, South Australian, Australian Capital please contact: Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated water into the forest from above Torrumbarry Weir. Escape by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. regulators at Swan Lagoon (Toorangabby) will be needed to Jamie Hearn stop water short-circuiting back into the River Murray. These The Living Murray Communications Coordinator (NSW) The Koondrook-Perricoota Forest works will direct the water so it can flow into parts of the Murray Catchment Management Authority forest and wetlands in the most critical condition. 315 Victoria St Deniliquin 2710 The Koondrook-Perricoota Forest covers approximately 32,000 T 03 5880 1416 ha and is part of the second-largest river red gum forest in A levee around the downstream perimeter of the forest M 0447 420 789 Australia. Changed flow regimes due to river regulation and closer to Barham will protect adjoining properties from E [email protected] a drier climate have impacted on forest health, leaving up flooding. Regulators on the outflow points will enable control to 87 % of trees severely stressed or dead. Works planned of flows leaving the forest so that downstream properties are Visit www.kpforest.com.au or the Murray-Darling Basin within the forest aim to improve the management and timing protected from high flows. Structures within the forest will Authority website www.mdba.gov.au of floodwaters, which is vital for colonial waterbird and native also allow water to be returned directly to the River Murray, Photos by David Kleinert fish breeding as well as the health of the iconic river red gum. delivering better water efficiency and flexibility. Published May 2010 A significant ‘natural’ forest flood occurs when flows at The scheme will be operated to mimic a range of natural Torrumbarry Weir exceed approximately 30,000 ML/day. flood events, which might have seen large-scale flooding of The length and frequency of floods of this magnitude has the forest occurring every 3 to 4 years for around 100 days at reduced since the regulation of the river. Predictions indicate a time. In the case of a natural flood event, the scheme will that within 50 years, floods of this size might only occur be managed for minimal impact on natural flows.