The Goulburn Weir Upgrade Project will commence in early January 2010 as part of Goulburn-Murray Water's (G-MW) ongoing program to ensure all its dams meet contemporary engineering standards.
According to G-MW Manager Major Projects Andrew Reynolds, G-MW's comprehensive review of the design of Goulburn Weir showed that some elements of the Weir required upgrading and that the structure may not be able to withstand the water and debris loads it could be subjected to in a large flood.
"We propose to upgrade the weir to ensure it meets modern design standards and will continue to function even after an extremely large flood. Goulburn Weir is a critical structure in the irrigation delivery system and we need to ensure it will operate effectively under all scenarios," said Mr Reynolds.
The $3.35 million Project will involve strengthening of the weir superstructure, installation of weir gate locking devices, upgrading of the existing gate hoist system and upgrading of the existing gate control system.
"Closure of the weir to the public 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. At times parts of the walkways may need to be removed. This would pose an unacceptable risk if public access were maintained during the works," Mr Reynolds said.
The project works are scheduled to commence in early January 2010 and will take about 10 months to complete. During this time, access across Goulburn Weir will be closed to the public. The playground and picnic area will remain open.
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.
"I understand that closing the Weir to the public during the works will cause some inconvenience but this is necessary to ensure the safety of all involved," said Mr Reynolds.
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