Lake Cargelligo interim work to bolster embankments

A major capital works project planned to upgrade the embankments has been postponed until 2023 due to the lake’s high storage level, a result of inflows generated by prolonged La Nina wet weather conditions in recent months.

In the interim, temporary protective works will commence on Monday (24 October), including placing of sand and rock along the downstream face of embankments impacted by previous flood events.

Rock will also be situated on the upstream face in areas prone to wind and wave action as part of a package of works expected to take up to six weeks to complete.

WaterNSW has increased the frequency of its monitoring of the lake and enlisted a dedicated specialist team to manage of the situation.

WaterNSW executive manager assets, Ronan Magaharan said the pending works are a temporary precautionary measure, that will be removed once the major upgrade commences.

“These temporary protective works are intended as an interim measure to limit the impact of the high storage level and wave action on the embankments during the exceptionally wet conditions being experienced in the Lachlan Valley and elsewhere,” he said.

“These works add to measures already undertaken by WaterNSW to maintain the structure and address areas of seepage and erosion which have occurred in recent months.

“Unfortunately the more significant permanent upgrade that was well advanced into the planning and preparation stage requires the storage level to be much lower than it currently is for the project to be undertaken effectively and safely.

“As a precaution these interim measures will ensure the safety of the structure until the weather conditions allow for the larger upgrade project to take place.”

WaterNSW will continue to update the community throughout the project.