- The final concrete pour for the weir crest was completed on Friday night
- Construction of the Rookwood Weir spillway is now complete
- This region shaping project is now more than 98% complete
- The final concrete pour of the weir's structure will occur in the coming weeks
The last monolith of the Rookwood Weir spillway crest is now complete, with the final concrete pour of the top of the monolith occurring at the weekend.
This achievement marks completion of the weir's spillway which comprises 13 monolith structures, each 16.2 metres in height and 15.5 metres wide creating a curved top for water to flow over the weir.
More than 129,500 of the required 131,000 cubic metres of concrete has now been poured, meaning the weir component of the project is now 98% complete.
The final concrete element, which will protect the weir structure from erosion, will be completed in the coming weeks.
Construction of Rookwood Weir occurs around the clock. Most of the concrete for the weir structure has been placed in the evenings and early hours of the morning, where favourable temperatures and conditions allow the concrete to cure slowly.
With the spillway complete, the weir can now store any significant inflows it receives from the upstream Lower Fitzroy River catchment.
A workforce of 140 remain onsite to complete the weir, including placing the final 1,500 cubic metres of concrete and finishing the electrical and mechanical components of the fish lock and turtle passage.
Key enabling projects, Hanrahan and Foleyvale crossing upgrades remain on track for completion in the coming months, weather permitting, and planning continues for the new Fitzroy Barrage fishway, located in Rockhampton.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:
"We're committed to delivering secure and reliable water to Central Queensland. Rookwood Weir is a vital part of achieving that.
"This is an important step that brings us close to the completion of the project and allows any significant rainfall to begin being captured. It's a big win for the community."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher:
"This concrete pour is bringing us ever closer to completion of this project which is really exciting.
"When complete, Rookwood Weir will be the biggest weir built in Australia since World War 2.
"Rookwood Weir is a job generating project that will deliver water security and economic growth to this region for years to come. At its peak this project had 325 workers onsite and, I'm proud to say it's also delivered opportunities for 30 apprentices and trainees which is fantastic.
"This is another example of how the Palaszczuk Government's $5.2 billion investment in water infrastructure is delivering jobs and water security for Queensland.
"I am looking forward to being back here soon to celebrate completion of this region shaping project."
Quotes attributable to Rockhampton MP, Barry O'Rourke:
"We are on the homestretch of such an important project for the future of water security in Central Queensland.
"More than $250 million has been spent locally to deliver this significant project and it has created hundreds of jobs and also important opportunities for apprentices and trainees. The economic benefits construction of this weir have provided to the region are clear and, once complete, it will continue to deliver jobs and economic growth to Central Queensland well into the future."
Quotes attributable to Sunwater CEO, Glenn Stockton:
"With the spillway now complete, the team's focus is on finalising the last of the weir's concrete requirements and the remaining electrical components of the fish lock and turtle passage.
"The team on-site for the final pour were excited to see the last of the weir's spillway completed and the remaining 1,500 cubic metres will be placed in the coming weeks.
"We look forward to completing the project and seeing the first water for customers available in 2024, after wet commissioning of the weir's infrastructure."
Further Information:
The Queensland and Australian Governments have contributed $183.6 million each to the total spend, and Sunwater is funding the remainder of the $568.9 million Rookwood Weir.
