NSW Estuary Asset Protection (NEAP)

Record-breaking flooding in February 2022 and onwards had a catastrophic impact on the environment and communities across parts of NSW. There was extensive damage to infrastructure and the natural environment.

The NSW Estuary Asset Protection Program was developed as a targeted and evidence-based flood response to protect and recover the natural estuarine assets and the benefits they provide the people of NSW and increase the resilience of natural systems to future flood events.

The program includes a mix of targeted actions in priority locations that will reinstate or protect natural infrastructure, protect Aboriginal cultural assets, and address built infrastructure threatening ecosystem health during flood events. Works and activities will protect NSW estuarine and floodplain environmental assets now and improve their resilience to future flood events.

The program delivers across six action areas including Action 3: Instream obstructions. Four projects were funded through this Action.

Jabour Weir fishway detailed design

The Richmond River is one of the largest coastal catchments in NSW and was heavily impacted by the 2022 floods. Until recently, five weirs (Norco, Manyweathers, Jabour, Cookes, and Kyogle) were present on the mainstem Richmond River, however several removals and the installation of a fishway at Kyogle Weir means that Jabour is the last remaining barrier on the mainstem Richmond River below the village of Grevillia.

This project is developing detailed designs for the preferred option of a vertical slot fishway. Activities include a site survey, geotechnical report, CFD (computational flow dynamics) modelling, and design drawings. The project is being managed by NSW Public Works.

Due to the scale and duration of the project, delivery needed to be staged and has extended beyond the life of the NEAP program. Completion of the detailed design has been funded through the Marine Estate Management Strategy's Reconnecting fish habitats project. The next stages of the project, including construction, will be progressed as resourcing becomes available.

Stroud Weir fishway refurbishment

Stroud Weir on the Karuah River was built in 1900 as a town water supply dam and continues to be managed by MidCoast Council for this purpose. Previously a barrier to fish passage at low and medium flows, a full-width natural rock ramp fishway was constructed at the weir in 2009 and improved upstream fish passage opportunities. Unfortunately, over time with the impact of flooding flows, some of the natural rock in the fishway has moved and now the fishway is outside of design specifications.

Concept and detailed designs were developed in conjunction with MidCoast Council under the Marine Estate Management Strategy's Reconnecting fish habitats project. The new design aims to replace the poorly functioning low flow channel area of the fishway with prefabricated concrete cone baffles. Unlike the existing natural rock ramp fishway, these baffles are all a consistent shape and size, therefore the water characteristics within the fishway will be consistent along its entire length and fish passage past the weir will be improved.

The NEAP Program funded the construction of this fishway to help improve resilience of fish populations within the Karuah River.

Works were completed in early 2026 and allows improved access to over 120 km of upstream habitat.

It also heralds the first cone fishway to be constructed in NSW!

Marsden Street fish lock repair

The Marsden Street Weir and fish lock is located between vertical slot fishways installed at Charles Street Weir / Wharf at the Parramatta River tidal limit (downstream), and Ross Street / Kiosk Weir (upstream). The fish lock therefore links a 2 km stretch of river from the tidal limit up to Parramatta Weir (located adjacent Parramatta Park).

Flooding impacts caused the Marsden Street fish lock to break down and it required recommissioning between 2022 and 2024. During this time two of the three hydraulic gates were completely rebuilt, however it became evident that electrical wiring was also damaged and needed replacing and telemetry needed upgrading from the old 2G network. Prior to works, the fish lock only operated in “manual mode”, requiring an operator to manually trigger the gate opening and closing sequence.

Rewiring the system, upgrading the controls and bringing them up to speed with technological advances since they were installed, has ensured the fish lock operates automatically, opening and closing at regular intervals to provide fish passage past Marsden Street Weir. It also has the added ability to help manage water levels in the Marsden Street Weir pool, helping manage flooding impacts to the Parramatta CBD.

Buckenbowra Weir removal

Buckenbowra Weir is located on the Buckenbowra River - a tributary of the Clyde River - on the south coast of NSW. This aging infrastructure has been impacted by repeat flood events, causing damage to the downstream rock protection.

The water stored by the weir was previously used by Eurobodalla Shire Council to supplement town water supply. In 2024 a larger water storage dam began construction that will soon replace Buckenbowra Weir.

As the weir was no longer needed, removal could be progressed through the NEAP program to provide a permanent, positive improvement to fish passage within the Buckenbowra River, increasing population resilience and allowing fish to move between estuarine and freshwater habitats more readily. Weir removal reinstates access to over 16 km of upstream habitat and 36 km of habitat within the Buckenbowra River overall.