Mildura Weir pool lowering to start in mid-July

29 June, 2010

To assist with upgrade works, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and Goulburn-Murray Water have confirmed that the lowering of the Mildura Weir pool (to about 3.6 m below full supply level) is planned for the week starting Monday 19 July 2010.

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As a result, the last boat passage through the Mildura Lock would be 4pm on Sunday 18 July 2010.

Upgrades to the Weir will include installation of a new prototype trestle with mechanised gates and construction of a ‘Denil’ fishway.

After the new prototype trestle has been installed, the weir pool will be raised back to full supply level by mid August 2010, depending on river flows.

Construction of the fishway is expected to start in early July and will take about three months. To assist with construction, the water level of the Wentworth weir pool may need to be lowered slightly (by up to 20 cm) to reduce the water level on the downstream side of Mildura Weir. Such lowering, if needed, would occur in August or September.

The proposed schedule for works is:
 

Water quality measurements will be taken during the drawdown at Mildura Weir, so that any salinity impacts in the weir pool or downstream can be carefully assessed.

Any higher salinity water will be diverted into Lake Victoria to minimise impacts on the river and to water users in South Australia.

Over the coming weeks, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Goulburn-Murray Water will continue to issue further advice via the MDBA’s Weekly report which can be viewed at www.mdba.gov.au

Media contact: Sam Leone, phone (02) 6279 0141

Photo: Arthur Mostead