INFRASTRUCTURE that is important to the operation of the Stuart Murray Canal at Nagambie is set to undergo winter upgrade works to ensure the reliability of water delivery to Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) customers.
The canal, located off the Goulburn Weir, is used to transfer water to parts of the Central Goulburn irrigation area and the Waranga Basin water storage.
The works, to commence in mid-May with completion expected by early July, will take place during the gravity irrigation off-season and will not affect irrigation customers.
GMW manager dams operations, Scott Wikman said, “The water transfer is controlled by an off-take regulator, which has four radial gates.
“These gates were installed in 1967 and have come to the end of their operating life.”
To allow for the works, the Stuart Murray Canal will be drained. To ensure GMW can harvest water during this period, GMW will also temporarily lower Lake Nagambie’s water level by up 50cm or 0.5m during the works.
“All stakeholders are again being alerted to the lake lowering in advance of this year’s gate replacement,” Mr Wikman said.
“When the works are complete, the lake will be returned to its normal level.”
The Goulburn Weir and its adjoining recreational area will remain open and accessible throughout the upgrade; however, for safety reasons, the Stuart Murray Canal’s offtake structure, walkover and adjoining carpark will be closed from May 24 to July 12, 2019.
