In a bid to revitilise the Collie River, the state government have provided funding to replace the Venn Street weir.
Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray announced the $40,000 funding with shire president Sarah Stanley and chief executive officer David Blurton last week.
Mr Murray said the current weir had ‘done a good job’ since it was built more than 40 years ago, but it was in a “sad state of disrepair” and needed upgrading.
“If we’re looking at a new structure, you’d have something that would be able to raise and lower the water level remotely and not by getting out there and risking your life.”
Currently, the Venn Street water stop requires boards to be added or removed by hand in order to alter water levels, which shire chief executive David Blurton said was a potential health and safety issue.
“This weir is well past its used by date and that’s been recognised for a long time,” Mr Blurton said.
“It’s important that something decent gets built here to hold enough water back because we use the water from this section of the river to irrigate Roche Park, the Recreation Ground and some other parks as well.”
Mr Murray said the replacement of the weir would improve the depth of the water in the Collie River, which would have positive benefits.
“Nardoo does not like the deep water or the colder water. It won’t eliminate [the nardoo] but it will stop it growing out into the middle of the [the river],” he said.
The funding for the project will come from the government’s Local Projects, Local Jobs program and is part of its $250,000 Collie River revitilisation project.
Shire president Sarah Stanley said the health of the river was a priority for the shire.
“Our priority is improving and maintaining the amenity of the river. It’s important for our tourism, it’s important for our residents [and] it’s a really important thing that the community feels needs to be looked at,” she said.
Mr Murray said he had been approached by many people with their concerns for the future of the river.
He said many other towns, such as Donnybrook, Northam and Boddington, had stops in place which allowed flowing water through the towns.
“It really does enhance a town to have water in its river,” he said.
Collie River expert Ed Riley said there had been some opposition to any plans to upgrade the weir, but that it needs to be done to help the river.
“The ongoing opposition from some members of out community who continue to oppose plans to upgrade the Venn Street river stop does not help things progress,” he said.
“Restoring and repeating previous function of the Venn Street river stop will ensure more depth of water in the river through town when needed, less weeds, better aesthetics, more recreational opportunities and beneficial environmental impact.”
