MINISTER for Water Harriet Shing was joined by representatives from Southern Rural Water (SRW) and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) on Thursday August 11, as she inspected the site of a new fishway at the Maffra Weir, to receive financial backing by the state government.
The new Maffra Weir Fishway is part of a $10 million investment into waterway and catchment health projects in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
Ms Shing told the Gippsland Times that the individual costs of the project were still being finalised.
“The fishway is part of that $10 million investment in waterway health, resource management, efficiency improvements and better outcomes for the environment and irrigators,” Ms Shing said.
In a media release, the state government said the project will allow endangered and significant native fish species to travel upstream along the Macalister River.
The fishway will connect 34 kilometres of waterway, allowing fish like the Australian Bass, the culturally significant River Blackfish and the endangered Australian Grayling to travel upstream to high-quality river habitat within the system.
Maffra Weir is a major irrigation offtake for the Macalister Irrigation District, but annual fish surveys show that the weir prevents native fish from travelling upstream.
This new fishway will help future-proof the river system, and strengthen the climate resilience of local fish populations by allowing them to move upstream in times of drought and enable them to quickly move back into the river reaches when wet conditions return.
Irrigation and environmental water releases from Lake Glenmaggie upstream ensures this section of the Macalister River receives permanent flows for fish to reside.
“A project which connects the river via a fishway had strong community support and will deliver on a long-held dream for Gippsland field naturalists – who do valuable work for our community and environment,” Ms Shing said.
The project will be delivered by WGCMA in collaboration with SRW which manages the weir facility.
WGCMA chief executive Martin Fuller said the most important principle of any river system was connectivity.
“If you ensure that a river is connected, there are so many benefits environmentally and culturally,” Mr Fuller said.
“These are waterways the (WGCMA) have been rehabilitating over a period of 25, 30, 50 years. So that’s what makes (these works) so exciting. Instead of (the weir) being a barrier, it’ll now be something that will allow fish and other species to go through.
“Connected waterways like this are really important when it comes to drought refuge and after disasters like bushfires, so fish can migrate through times of stress.”
Design of the fishway is expected to be complete in late 2024, with construction finished by end of 2027.
Ms Shing said the water belonged to all Victorians.
“We want to ensure that the long-term planning for (projects like this) is collaborative and respectful,” Ms Shing said.
Other projects funded include upgrades to watering infrastructure in West Gippsland and to the Werribee Diversion Weir.
SRW managing director Cameron FitzGerald said the project was a great partnership with WGCMA and the state government.
“It’s all about working together for great outcomes for the broader community,” he said.
