NSW Estuary Asset Protection (NEAP)

Record-breaking flooding in February 2022 and onwards had a catastrophic impact on the environment and communities across parts of NSW. There was extensive damage to infrastructure and the natural environment.

The NSW Estuary Asset Protection Program was developed as a targeted and evidence-based flood response to protect and recover the natural estuarine assets and the benefits they provide the people of NSW and increase the resilience of natural systems to future flood events.

The program includes a mix of targeted actions in priority locations that will reinstate or protect natural infrastructure, protect Aboriginal cultural assets, and address built infrastructure threatening ecosystem health during flood events. Works and activities will protect NSW estuarine and floodplain environmental assets now and improve their resilience to future flood events.

The program delivers across six action areas including Action 3: Instream obstructions. Three projects are currently underway under this Action.

Jabour Weir fishway detailed design

The Richmond River is one of the largest coastal catchments in NSW and was heavily impacted by the 2022 floods. Until recently, five weirs (Norco, Manyweathers, Jabour, Cookes, and Kyogle) were present on the mainstem Richmond River, however several removals and the installation of a fishway at Kyogle Weir means that Jabour is the last remaining barrier on the mainstem Richmond River below the village of Grevillia.

This project is developing detailed designs for the preferred option of a vertical slot fishway. Activities include a site survey, geotechnical report, CFD (computational flow dynamics) modelling, and design drawings. The project is being managed by NSW Public Works.

Stroud Weir fishway refurbishment

Stroud Weir on the Karuah River was built in 1900 as a town water supply dam and continues to be managed by MidCoast Council for this purpose. Previously a barrier to fish passage at low and medium flows, a full-width natural rock ramp fishway was constructed at the weir in 2009 and improved upstream fish passage opportunities. Unfortunately, over time with the impact of flooding flows, some of the natural rock in the fishway has moved and now the fishway is outside of design specifications.

Concept and detailed designs were developed in conjunction with MidCoast Council under the Marine Estate Management Strategy's Reconnecting fish habitats project. The new design aims to replace the poorly functioning low flow channel area of the fishway with prefabricated concrete cone baffles. Unlike the existing natural rock ramp fishway, these baffles are all a consistent shape and size, therefore the water characteristics within the fishway will be consistent along its entire length and fish passage past the weir will be improved.

The NEAP Program is funding construction of this fishway to help improve resilience of fish populations within the Karuah River. Works are scheduled to occur in the 2024 - 25 financial year.

Marsden Street fish lock repair

The Marsden Street Weir and fish lock is located between vertical slot fishways installed at Charles Street Weir / Wharf at the Parramatta River tidal limit (downstream), and Ross Street / Kiosk Weir (upstream). The fish lock therefore links a 2 km stretch of river from the tidal limit up to Parramatta Weir (located adjacent Parramatta Park).

This project will investigate and repair faults in the wiring of the fish lock. The electrical wiring allows for local and remote control of hydraulic gates, communicating with them to open or close as required. The project will also upgrade the control panel from an onsite operation to a cloud based platform allowing for shut down and restarting from remote locations during flood conditions.