Rookwood Weir: New fish ladder to be built on Fitzroy River barrage
As part of the approvals for Rookwood Weir in Central Queensland, a fish passage is to be built. Council is in talks with Sunwater to build one on the northern banks of the Fitzroy River.
Rockhampton
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Another fish ladder is set to be built at the Fitzroy River barrage as a result of the environmental effects of the construction of the $37m Rookwood Weir west of Rockhampton.
A report was included in the Rockhampton Regional Council Infrastructure Committee meeting this week on developing a fish passage on the northern banks of the Fitzroy River barrage.
Sunwater approached council in November 2021 to explore establishing the fish ladder and a working group was created.
The construction of 76,000ML Rookwood Weir has meant there is a loss of some fish habitat and the flooding of upstream impoundment.
The approvals for Rookwood Weir mandated that a fishway offset delivery plan be developed to compensate for this.
Biopassage structures, ie. fish ladders and fish-friendly culverts, are constructed to help fish and other aquatic species move past waterway barriers like dams, weirs and tidal barriers.
There are already two fish ladders on the southern side of the barrage and it would be of ecological benefit to establish another on the northern bank.
The new fish ladder must not impact the council’s water security, the structural integrity and maintenance and operations or future raising of the barrage.
Any operational costs, installation and maintenance of the fish ladder would remain the responsibility of Sunwater.
The Project Working Group will now continue to work on a development plan for the fish ladder on the northern bank.
Looking to the Rookwood Weir project, tenders opened last month for farmers to bid for the second round of water licences for the weir.
There are 7500 megalitres of medium priority water available, with lots from 10 megalitres up to 500 megalitres, for agricultural and non-urban use.
The first stage of the water allocation was completed in December 2020, for 30,000 megalitres.
A 50 per cent allocation of all water from the weir has been stipulated for agricultural use.
The project has been funded by Federal and State Governments.
“The Rookwood Weir project will ensure a secure future for water in Central Queensland, supporting farmers and agriculture, and also town water supplies,” Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said.
“Landholders located along the Lower Fitzroy River system can take part in this water tender, which provides a great opportunity for them to sustainably diversify and expand their farming activities.”
Queensland Water Minister Glenn Butcher said the water could help growers expand and improve their businesses, or transition to high-value crops.
“The flow-on benefits for the broader community will be enormous, as a boost to the agricultural sector will result in more good jobs and better services,” he said.
“Building the weir is delivering good, secure jobs and economic benefits for Central Queensland right now – while the water it captures will provide more of the same for future generations.”
Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said more than 70 landholders registered interest in the water allocation.
“Additionally, more than 40 landholders took part in a Sunwater-funded program that was facilitated by Advance Rockhampton and provided advice to on how to capitalise on business opportunities through water from the weir,” he said.
The construction of the weir reached one million hours of work in August, with more than 300 employees on the project.
The project is now nearing 50 per cent of the total planned volume of concrete.
“We are working around the clock to do as much as we can ahead of the wet season,”
Sunwater CEO Glenn Stockton said the first water from Rookwood Weir was on track to be available in late 2023, following the full commissioning of the infrastructure.
Once fully operational, Rookwood Weir is expected to create a further 300 jobs within the agriculture industry.
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