Goulburn Weir Upgrade Project

Goulburn Weir

Goulburn Weir is located on the Goulburn River 10 kilometres north of the town of Nagambie. The Weir structure raises the level of the Goulburn River so that water can be diverted by gravity along the Stuart Murray Canal, Cattanach Canal and the East Goulburn Main Channel and is therefore one of Goulburn-Murray Water's key diversion assets.

Diversions to the East Goulburn Main Channel supply the Shepparton Irrigation Area. The Stuart Murray Canal supplies part of the Central Goulburn Irrigation Area. Both the Stuart Murray Canal and the Cattanach Canals are used to divert water to Waranga Basin for further supplies to the Goulburn irrigation system.

The weir pool forms Lake Nagambie around which many recreational, farming and housing developments have grown.

 

Goulburn Weir Upgrade Project

Goulburn Weir was originally constructed in 1891 and was the first major diversion structure built for irrigation purposes in Australia.

Works to stabilise the deteriorating weir structure were completed in 1983, and in 1987 a major refurbishment was undertaken.  As part of the works, the main weir superstructure was replaced with nine steel radial gates mounted between concrete piers forming the new structure.

 As a responsible dam owner Goulburn-Murray Water completed a dam safety review of Goulburn Weir in 2006.  The review compared the design and current condition of Goulburn Weir to modern engineering standards.

The review showed that some elements of the Weir required upgrading as the structure may not be able to withstand the water and debris loads it could be subjected to in a very large flood.

The Goulburn Weir Upgrade Project has been developed to address the deficiencies with a scope of works as follows:

  • Installation of a gate locking mechanism on each weir gate enabling the gates to be secured in the fully open position
  • Strengthening of  the weir superstructure to enable it to withstand hydraulic and debris loads imposed by very large floods
  • Refurbishment of the weir gate hoist gear
  • Upgrade of the gate control system to accommodate changes to the hoist gear and ensure compatibility with the new equipment being installed throughout G-MW as part of irrigation systems upgrades
  • Installation of modern electrical components for accurate measurement of gate openings; and
  • Upgrading of power supply cabling to current electrical safety standards

The works are to be carried out by a specialist contractor.

 

 

Weir Operations

There will be no impact on the operation of the Weir as a result of the Project.  Water levels in Lake Nagambie will not be affected by the construction project. G-MW will continue to operate the storage to maximize the volume of water available to customers throughout the construction period.

 

Project Cost and Timing

Site works will commence in January 2010 and are anticipated to be completed by October 2010.

The Project budget is $3.35 million

 

Public Access

Access to the Goulburn Weir structure will be closed to the public during the Project.  This is necessary to ensure the safety of the public and construction employees during the project. There will be considerable activity on the walkway platforms with personnel and construction equipment located there.

The Goulburn Weir playground and picnic areas will remain open during the Project.

 

Your Questions Answered

Q.

Will the upgrade allow more water to be stored

A.

No.  The purpose of these works is to improve the safety of the weir, not increase storage

Q.

Will our water supply or quality be affected

A.

No. There will be no impact on the operation of the Weir as a result of the Project.  Water levels in Lake Nagambie will not be affected by the construction project. G-MW will continue to operate the storage to maximize the volume of water available to customers throughout the construction period.

Q.

How will the construction work affect nearby residents

A.

Goulburn-Murray Water will try to minimise any inconvenience caused by the works.  Working Hours will be from 7am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 3pm Saturday.

Q.

Will there be any benefits to the local economy

A.

The majority of the project budget will be spent in the local region with material suppliers and contractors.  This will stimulate an economic benefit to the community.  Some of the Project workers are from other regions and will require accommodation in the local area.

 

Further Information

Contact: Goulburn-Murray Water's Project Manager - Chris Kelly on (03) 5824 5628 or chrisk@g-mwater.com.au

For general information on Goulburn Weir please visit http://www.g-mwater.com.au/water-resources/storages/goulburn/goulburnweir

For more information on other Dam Safety upgrades please visit  http://www.g-mwater.com.au/williamhovellupgrade