SA Water has advised boat drivers along the River Murray in South Australia to take note of temporary changes to operations of the network of locks and weirs during increased flows along the river.
With a rise in water levels coming down the system from upstream, the chambers at Lock 2 through to Lock 6 have been temporarily closed for use.
Senior Manager of River Murray Operations at SA Water, Garry Fyfe said the chamber at Lock 1 remained operational with similar changes expected to be implemented at the Blanchetown site this month.
Mr Fyfe said vessels could able to safely pass over the adjacent weir in both directions instead without needing to use the lock chamber.
“In periods of higher than usual flows like we are currently seeing, we continue to review how best to manage our lock infrastructure, while maintaining a safe channel for boat drivers,” Mr Fyfe said.
“Having worked closely with the Department for Environment and Water in monitoring flows coming down the system, our team of lock coordinators – or ‘lockies’ – have been removing stop logs and navigation passes, to safely facilitate the increased water levels,” he said.
“This allows drivers to navigate freely across sections of our weir structures without the need to enter or exit the lock chamber, with each passage clearly marked with buoy lines, signage and lights to safely guide drivers as they pass through.”
He said that as the flow would subside over time, the pieces of infrastructure will be reinstated to return the lock chambers back to normal operations.
“Reduced speed restrictions remain in place for people travelling through,” Mr Fyfe said.
“And we thank everyone for navigating our system of locks and weirs in a safe way for their benefit and that of our team.”
Mr Fyfe said people with questions or who required information about how to safely pass through a lock could touch base with the team of ‘lockies’ by calling the individual site in advance.
SA Water manages Locks One to Six in South Australia on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, as well as Lock Seven at Rufus River and Lock Eight at Wangumma in New South Wales, as well as Lock Nine at Kulnine in Victoria.
Mr Fyfe said the utility also operated barrages at Goolwa, Mundoo, Boundary Creek, Ewe Island and Tauwitchere.
More information about SA Water’s management of locks and weirs as well as contact numbers for each site, can be accessed at the SA Water website at this PS News link.
