Staff at the Department of Natural Resources are investigating a low-or-zero-cost approach to desilting weirs as part of a plan to ensure efficient water use in the Lockyer Valley.
Minister for Natural Resources, Anthony Lynham said water level recorders would be installed in the area’s weirs.
“The recorders will allow Seqwater to monitor water levels remotely…remote monitoring, rather than time-consuming onsite inspections, will make the whole process quicker and more efficient,” Dr Lynham said.
“Managing weir levels better means better recharging for groundwater and no wastage from water overtopping weirs.”
The new monitors are expected to be installed over the next 12 months.
Dr Lynham said silt build-up in the Lockyer Valley’s 25 weirs was a significant and ongoing challenge.
“Seqwater and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy are currently looking for a low-or-zero-cost approach to desilting the weirs,” he said.
“This includes investigating the efficiency of the area’s weirs generally, the overall impacts of siltation and the potential for larger-scale desilting works or de-silting priority weirs.”
Dr Lynham said the monitors and better management practices were in response to issues irrigators had raised during development of a revised water plan for the Central Lockyer.
He said the new plan would also require Seqwater to monitor and report the local water scheme’s performance.
“Seqwater undertakes regular maintenance but has also undertaken extra work around Redbank Creek and the pump station that diverts water into Clarendon Dam,” he said.
“As well, rubbish build-up has been cleared from the bed of the diversion channel between Lockyer Creek and Redbank Creek Pump Station to improve flow.’’
