About the project
Water Infrastructure NSW is designing and constructing a new weir for Wilcannia on behalf of the NSW and Australian Governments under the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program.
Funding has been jointly committed to replace the weir at a new site location, which was supported and agreed upon by the community during previous investigations and consultation by the Department of Planning and Environment’s Water Group.
The new weir will provide long-term town water supplies to preserve and enhance the social, economic and environmental benefits for Wilcannia, its people and its surrounds.
Water Infrastructure NSW is currently undertaking the detailed design and environmental assessments for the new weir so it can progress to the construction phase if all environmental and planning approvals are received.
The new weir aims to deliver a range of benefits including:
- improved water security for Wilcannia
- enhanced cultural connection to the river
- improved water management of the weir pool
- increased tourism opportunities and investment
- better recreational amenity to walk, swim, picnic and fish
- improved native fish migration.
Project status
Work is still progressing on the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project, with both the Australian and NSW Governments committed to delivering this project and its associated benefits for the local community.
Unfortunately, persistent rainfall, high river flows and wet site conditions are hampering the new weir’s pre-construction site-based activities and investigations.
A clearer idea of the new weir’s construction timeline will be available once its detailed design and Environmental Impact Statement are further progressed.
Further geotechnical studies are needed to complete the detailed design of the new weir. These investigations can only be undertaken properly and safely when river, weather and site conditions allow.
The public exhibition of the new weir’s Environmental Impact Statement finished in mid-August 2022. Water Infrastructure NSW is now working to assess the issues raised in the submissions and to develop responses (including identifying where further studies are required).
Community consultation
Water Infrastructure NSW understands the importance of the river to the community and wants to design and construct a weir meeting community needs and expectations and maintaining the strong connection people have to the river.
Community drop-in sessions, to share information and get feedback on the development of the project, are being held at key milestones. Regular updates to the community via newsletter, fact sheets, newspaper and radio are also being made available.
Why Wilcannia needs a new weir and the benefits of its installation
Learn about the history of the existing Wilcannia Weir, what the new weir will look like and how the team worked with the community on its planning.
October 2021
How the new weir will work
Understand the innovative design proposed for the new weir site and how it will benefit both the people of Wilcannia and the environment.
December 2021
What planning processes does the weir need to go through
Learn about the rigorous environmental planning process the weir project has to go through ahead of construction.
November 2021
What the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project means to the community
Hear about what the project means to the Wilcannia community and how they will contribute to the weir’s development.
December 2020
How the project is creating local employment opportunities
Learn about the Union Bend Road upgrade and how it is supporting employment in the Wilcannia region.
March 2022
The training initiatives as part of the project
Water Infrastructure NSW continues to work closely with key stakeholders to provide the local community with employment training opportunities. Hear from some of the Wilcannia locals who have completed training and development programs as part of the new weir project.
April 2021
Project updates
- Project Update - November 2022 (PDF, 331.3 KB)
- Project Update - March 2022 (PDF, 324.8 KB)
- Project Update - November 2021 (PDF, 418.7 KB)
- Project Update - June 2021 (PDF, 842.2 KB)
- Project Update - February 2021 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Project Update - November 2020 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Project Initiatives Update - September 2020 (PDF, 2.3 MB)
- Project Update - September 2020 (PDF, 839.6 KB)
- Project Update - June 2020 (PDF, 1.4 MB)
- Project Update - April 2020 (PDF, 332.6 KB)
- Project Update - December 2019 (PDF, 1.8 MB)
- Project Update - October 2019 (PDF, 400.8 KB)
- Project Fact Sheet - August 2019 (PDF, 824.7 KB)
Media articles
- Collaborative training program providing Wilcannia locals with a pathway to employment - TAFE NSW Wilcannia, March 2021
- Local artwork to be integrated into weir in Wilcannia - Maari-Ma Community Newsletter , January 2021
A Baaka Adventure with Gillie
To further support community engagement and awareness of the weir replacement project, a children’s activity booklet A Baaka Adventure with Gillie was developed. The booklet provides educational information on local river life and ecology. Individual booklet pages or a set of 6 combined pages can be downloaded as PDFs from the links below:
- Help Gillie find Barkindji friends - (Colour version) (PDF, 97.1 KB)
- Help Gillie find Barkindji friends - (B/W version) (PDF, 91.1 KB)
- Gillie colour, pattern and thakala - (Colour version) (PDF, 85.2 KB)
- Gillie colour, pattern and thakala - (B/W version) (PDF, 83.7 KB)
- Baaka life like Gillie - (Colour version) (PDF, 246.6 KB)
- Baaka life like Gillie - (B/W version) (PDF, 245.4 KB)
- Help Gillie colour and count - (Colour version) (PDF, 458.6 KB)
- Help Gillie colour and count - (B/W version) (PDF, 458.6 KB)
- Gillie’s a-maze-ing journey - (Colour version) (PDF, 222.3 KB)
- Gillie’s a-maze-ing journey - (B/W version) (PDF, 227.0 KB)
- Gillie code breaker - (Colour version) (PDF, 74.2 KB)
- Gillie code breaker - (B/W version) (PDF, 72.3 KB)
- Draw and colour at the river with Gillie (A3) - (Colour version) (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Draw and colour at the river with Gillie (A3) - (B/W version) (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Water cycle game with Gillie (A3) - (Colour version) (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Water cycle game with Gillie (A3) - (B/W version) (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- River drawing and water cycle lift out - (Colour version) (PDF, 3.0 MB)
- River drawing and water cycle lift out - (B/W version) (PDF, 3.0 MB)
- 6 x A4 sheets suite - (Colour version) (PDF, 1016.5 KB)
- 6 x A4 sheets suite - (B/W version) (PDF, 1013.5 KB)
Contact us
For more information about the project, email us at wilcanniaweir@dpie.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 081 047.