Bright Weir Fishway Project

FUNDING SHORTFALL PROMPTS INDEFINITE DEFERRAL OF FISHWAY PROJECT - MAY 2024

A significant shortfall in funding has led to the indefinite deferral of the Bright Fish Passage Project by Alpine Shire Council.

A recommendation to the council's May meeting supported NECMA's indefinite deferral of the project, until suitable funding becomes available.

In February 2024, North East CMA reported the tenders for the design and construction of the weir significantly exceeded the available funding. It has also advised there are no opportunities for alternative funding sources, despite efforts to source additional funding.

North East CMA is proposing to undertake engineering and geotechnical assessment of the site to provide greater surety to the opinion of probable cost of the project.

NEW FISHWAY A BOOST FOR NATIVE FISH HEALTH

A new fishway is planned for Centenary Park at Bright to help native fish move more freely along the Ovens River.
The more than $3 million project will involve construction of a vertical slot fishway at Bright Weir at Centenary Park which is currently a barrier to fish movement.
After the fishway is completed, native fish will be able to move more freely up and downstream across a 42 kilometre stretch between Bright Weir and the headwaters of the Ovens River. The new fishway will also give fish access to an additional 120 kilometres of tributaries linked to the Ovens River.

Read on to learn more about the Bright fishway project and other initiatives being undertaken to support native fish populations in the Ovens River.

PROJECT UPDATE

October 2023

On 18 October 2023, the North East Catchment Management Authority released the Request for Tender for the detailed design construction of a vertical slot fishway on the north bank of the Ovens River at the Bright Weir. Tenders close on 20 November 2023.

This follows two years of significant development including preliminary design and safety review in consultation with the Alpine Shire (the asset owner), and the Project Steering Group (membership includes Bright Chamber of Commerce, Upper Ovens Landcare Group, Alpine Shire Council, Taungurung Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).

Alpine Shire and the Project Steering Group will be consulted before award of any contract.

Link to document with photo montages - Bright Fishway photo montage - V5

FISHY FAQs

WHAT is a fishway?

A fishway is a constructed waterway that allows fish to bypass a physical barrier like a weir. The structure creates a passage so fish can move freely along a river to successfully complete all stages of their life-history, including spawning, feeding and for refuge.

Fishways are being constructed in various locations throughout the Murray-Darling Basin to help protect and boost native fish populations.

WHY is a fishway needed at the Bright Weir?

The Ovens River is home to significant populations of native fish and is one of only two rivers in Murray-Darling Basin with a near-natural flow regime.

Establishing a fishway within the Bright Weir will remove an artificial barrier that is preventing fish from migrating into the upper reaches of the Ovens catchment. Restricted fish passage is negatively impacting on breeding of native fish, which is contributing to population decline.

Providing fish passage at Bright Weir at Centenary Park is identified in the North East Catchment Management Authority Regional Waterway Strategy (2014) as a lead action (UOV LA 1.5).

WHAT will the fishway do?

The fishway will create a passage that allows fish to move more freely up and downstream across a 42 kilometre stretch between Bright Weir at Centenary Park and the headwaters of the Ovens River. Fish will also gain access to an additional 120 kilometres of tributaries linked to the Ovens River.

The fishway will give adult fish access to and from more spawning habitats, create new habitat for juvenile fish and offer fish access to and from refuge areas during droughts, floods or blackwater (poor water quality) events.

WHAT type of native fish will the fishway help?

The Ovens River is home to significant populations of native fish, including several threatened species. The fishway will benefit nationally significant native species including Trout Cod, Macquarie Perch and sub adult Murray Cod. Read more and download factsheets about threatened fish species here.

WHERE will the fishway be installed?

The fishway will be installed at the Bright Weir in Centenary Park.

WHAT type of fishway is being built at the Bright Weir?

There are many different types of fishways. Designs are selected to suit the characteristics of each site. Design choices are based on the ability of specific fish species to swim and manoeuvre against a current, and consider specific water velocities, turbulence and light levels.

After extensive research and analysis, a Vertical Slot Fishway design was selected for construction at the Bright Weir. This fishway design has proved most effective for passing native fish. It provides consistent within fishway flow conditions over a wide range of river flow conditions and can be specifically targeted for a broad size range of fish or subsets.

WHAT will the fishway look like?

A Vertical Slot fishway consists of a constructed channel divided into a series of pools, separated by baffles that have a vertical slot through which water passes. Fish move upstream by passing from pool to pool. This video shows the layout and use of a vertical slot fishway.

How a vertical slot fishway works - watch this YouTube video

Pictured right: View of the fishway looking downstream from the weir bridge

WHAT will the fishway look like? Pt 2

Right: View from the upstream weir pool looking downstream.

WHAT will the fishway look like? Pt 3

Right: A view of the Benalla Fishway.

WHO is paying for construction of the fishway at Bright Weir?

In May 2020, NECMA secured $2.6 million of funding through the Victorian Government's 'Building Works' program to construct a fishway at the Bright Weir at Centenary Park. Funding for this project is part of the Victorian Government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package.

WHO will manage construction of the new fishway?

Construction of the fishway is being managed by North East CMA in partnership with Alpine Shire Council (Bright).

A tender for construction of the fishway will be advertised.

HOW is the community involved in the project?

In 2021 NECMA convened a Project Steering Group to provide oversight and review as the detailed design was developed. The Project Steering Group comprises representatives of the following organisations:

North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA)
Alpine Shire Council
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
Taungurung Land and Waters Aboriginal Council
Upper Ovens Landcare Group
Bright Chamber of Commerce

WHAT materials will be used to construct the fishway?

The fishway will be constructed mostly out of precast concrete panels. This material choice will reduce onsite construction time and allow the project to occur in Autumn, thereby reducing impacts to recreation and tourists. Aesthetic treatments will be used to naturalise the fishway into the surrounding riverine environment.

HOW long will it take to build the fishway at Bright Weir?

On site fishway construction will take about 8 weeks. The pre cast concrete panels can be manufactured off site, significantly reducing construction time. Commencing construction in autumn will minimise impacts to recreation and tourists during the warmer summer months and allow construction to take place while the Ovens River flows are at their lowest.

WILL construction impact on Bright residents or visitors?

Construction will be undertaken primarily downstream of the Bright Weir to minimise impacts to recreation and is expected to take place when river flows are lowest.

Steps are being taken to reduce the impact to businesses, the Bright community and tourists by engaging with stakeholders, hearing their concerns and mitigating these where possible.

WHEN will the fishway be opened?

The fishway will be completed and operational by end of June 2024.

WILL the fishway create a hazard for people who swim in the river?

See extract from Alpine Shire Council meeting - 7 June 2022

NECMA commissioned an external specialist to facilitate a design safety review of the proposed fish passage structure at the Bright Weir at Centenary Park. Alpine Shire Council officers participated in this review.

This review identified threats and groups of people most likely to be exposed to these threats. Existing and planned mitigation and controls were considered, and a number of new mitigation methods and controls.

The review concluded that all reasonably practicable precautions have been identified to manage safety associated with the operation of the proposed fish passage structure, and that the operation of the proposed fish passage structure will not result in a situation that is prohibitively dangerous for members of the public or for Council staff involved in the operation and maintenance of the structure.

Through flood modelling, NECMA has demonstrated that there will be negligible impact on flood risk to the Bright township through the construction of a fish passage structure at the Bright weir.