Upgrade brings new amenities to Keepit park

Construction of a new amenities building, caravan sites and associated facilities at Lake Keepit State Park has been completed as part of the flood security upgrade at the dam.

10 caravans were relocated and the old amenities building demolished to make way for one of three new saddle dams in the State Water project funded by the NSW Government which will enable Keepit to withstand extreme floods.

State Water’s Keepit upgrade site manager Russell Sainsbury said he was pleased with the relocation works.

"The facilities relocation required developing a new site for the caravans, installing new water and sewer mains, erecting retaining walls, constructing paths and landscaping," Mr Sainsbury said.

Work on the two new spillways, being undertaken by John Holland Pty Ltd, is due for completion in September.

State Water project manager Roy Bergseng said extensive excavation has taken place for the new spillways.

"The 200m wide spillway near the dam required 500,000 m3 of rock to be excavated. Concrete lining is now underway," Mr Bergseng said.

"The 300m wide subwall spillway (near the State Park entry) has been excavated and the concrete dividing walls and slabs are now being constructed."

100ha of white box tree habitat and acquired lands within the State Park are being fenced for biodiversity offset areas to compensate for any habitat lost through construction works.

The upgrade is one of seven State Water is completing throughout regional NSW.

Following completion of the current stage of works an assessment will be made to determine whether further works will need to be undertaken to provide maximum flood capability.

Media contact: Jane Urquhart 0429 449 711