Weir boost water management

Corangamite CMA chair Alice Knight, CCMA chief executIve John Riddiford and South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman. (supplied)

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) hopes a new tidal barrage weir and fishways on the Lower Barwon Wetlands will improve water management for the Geelong region.

The two-year project was carried out by the CCMA in collaboration with Arthur Rylah Institute, Pensar Infrastructure and Australasian Fish Passage Services.

It is hoped that the project will also provide vital passage for significantly threatened migratory fish species like the Australian grayling.

The tidal barrage weir has three complementary fishways to enable migrating fish to pass through the weir.

The new cone fishway, is the first of its type to be built on a coastal system in Victoria.

“The new lower Barwon barrage weir and fishways are a $2 million investment in waterway infrastructure in internationally significant wetlands near Geelong,” CCMA chief executive John Riddiford said.

“This critical infrastructure will help to maintain water levels in the Barwon River in Geelong and provide essential biodiversity and recreational benefits to local and regional communities.”

The project is a $2 million investment from the state government in water infrastructure in internationally significant wetlands.