$57M KOONDROOK PERRICOOTA TENDER AWARDED
Tenders have been awarded for a $57 million project to water 17,000 hectares of River Redgum in the Koondrook-Perricoota forest, NSW Minister for Water Phil Costa announced.
Minister Costa said construction of a series of channels and regulators that will allow managed flooding of the forest to improve the health of the forest would begin in September.
“This $57 million project is the single largest environmental works project under a series of environmental works being built by The Living Murray program,” Minister Costa said.
"This work will not only improve and protect forest health, but it will also inject funds into the local community, benefiting local subcontractors and suppliers.
“The multi-million dollar project will involve construction of a 3.8 kilometre channel and a 43 kilometre series of levees and control regulators.
“This new infrastructure will enable water to be diverted into the creek system and contain the flooding to the forest and prevent impacts on surrounding farm land.
“Water from the Murray River at Torrumbarry will be directed into natural flood runners, and run through 17,000 hectares of Redgum forest along the Murray, before being returned to the river.
“In addition, new fish-ways will be built to ensure fish continue moving in and out of the forest, along with a unique turtle ramp at the inlet regulator site for freshwater turtles to pass through.
“We’ve already undertaken extensive preparatory work including surveys, detailed designs, consultation and an Environmental Impact Assessment, so we are ready to start construction.
“State Water, the NSW Office of Water and Forests NSW will keep the community informed so that all forest users know when and where they can access the forest during construction.
“We are also working with local Indigenous communities, with the Barapa Barapa and Yorta Yorta Nations and the Moama and Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Councils collaborating to ensure the interests of local Indigenous people are recognised and considered.”
Minister Costa said NSW is leading the way in designing and constructing major projects that provide environmental benefits and save water without impacting water available for industry.
“In the past three years NSW has completed major projects including the Darling Anabranch water supply pipeline, wetland rehabilitation works on the Edward River, reconfiguration of the Barren Box Swamp and the upgrade of the Buronga Salt Interception Scheme,” Minister Costa said.
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 Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Construction will be carried out by Fulton Hogan Constructions Pty Ltd. and is expected to be completed in June 2011.
Media contact: Elizabeth Lawrence 0428 640 062
