Construction has started on a $13.5 million project to improve the long-term health of Gunbower Forest.   The Flooding for Life project involves the installation of engineering structures to enable efficient and effective delivery of large volumes of environmental water to Gunbower Forest.   

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) coordinates The Flooding for Life project in partnership with Goulburn–Murray Water (G-MW), the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Parks Victoria.   

According to Damian Wells, the North Central CMA’s Chief Executive Officer, reduced frequency and duration of floods due to river regulation and climate change has impacted on the health of Gunbower Forest.   

Mr Wells said, “Regular floods of various sizes are required to maintain healthy and functioning ecological communities in Gunbower Forest.  

“The works being constructed will allow approximately 5,000 hectares of the forest to be flooded, including a third of the River Red Gum communities and most of the forest wetlands.   

“They will also give us the flexibility to water smaller sections of the forest when less environmental water is available and to mimic the natural variability of flooding.   

“The start of construction is the culmination of ten years of work by the agencies involved, including intensive scientific investigations, hydraulic modeling, community consultation and a range of statutory approvals,” Mr Wells said.   

The works include:   

• a one-kilometre channel along Hipwell Road to deliver environmental water from Gunbower Creek to Gunbower Forest
• a bridge where Island Road crosses the channel
• an offtake regulator and fish lock to control flows entering the channel
• a weir and fishway in Gunbower Creek to achieve maximum inflow rates of 1600 ML/day.

G-MW has started construction on the offtake regulator, with the Hipwell Road weir to be constructed in winter during the off-irrigation season.       

G-MW construction manager, Greg Watkins, said construction is expected to take 12 months.   

“The works have been designed using the latest engineering technology, and include features such as fish passage which will enable fish to move along Gunbower Creek and into and out of the forest unimpeded,” Mr Watkins said.   

The project complements smaller works carried out in the lower end of the forest in 2012, including the upgrade and refurbishment of existing regulators, which will be used in tandem with the Hipwell Road works.   

Funding for construction is provided by the MDBA through The Living Murray program. The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the MDBA.  

More information about the Flooding for Life project is available at www.nccma.vic.gov.au

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au