Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) and the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have partnered to deliver a $2.5 million project to construct a rock ramp fishway on the Ovens River, at the Tea Garden Weir, near Everton.

GMW Managing Director Charmaine Quick and North East CMA Chief Executive Officer Katie Warner recently signed a service agreement, which includes a partnership model to deliver the project by June 2022.

North East CMA will manage community engagement and consultation, approvals and monitoring, with GMW managing delivery of the technical and construction elements of the 18-month project, funded by the Victorian Government’s Building Works Capital Stimulus Package.

The first phase will be a design review of the 2016 design. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022. 

Ms Quick said the project was an important partnership between the two organisations.

“This partnership further strengthens the alliance of our two agencies to deliver large, complex projects, and we’re really proud to share our experience to continue delivering for the region now and into the future,” she said.

Ms Warner agreed.

“This partnership provides an excellent opportunity for GMW and North East CMA to work together to remove barriers to fish movement and improve populations of threatened and endangered species in the Ovens River, including Macquarie Perch, Trout Cod, Murray Cod, Silver Perch and Flat-headed Galaxias,” she said.