Rookwood Weir Project – About the Project

About the project

Project location

Fitzroy River, Central Queensland, approximately 66 km south-west of Rockhampton.

Project timeline

Business case

Building Queensland prepared a Detailed Business Case (DBC) outlining a range of options for investment for the Lower Fitzroy River Infrastructure Project (LFRIP). The DBC was developed with supporting funding from the Australian Government’s National Water Infrastructure Development Fund and was finalised in October 2017.

Project description

The Rookwood Weir Project comprises two key components:

1. constructing Rookwood weir
2. enabling works – upgrading existing infrastructure to support both the construction of
   the weir and operations once it was built.

Approvals

Rookwood Weir approval conditions, including environmental offsets and management measures, are available to view in detail.

While the State and Commonwealth imposed approval conditions for the Rookwood Weir, a range of secondary environmental approvals are being sought in accordance with Local Government and State legislative requirements.

View full Federal Approval

View full State Approval

Rookwood Weir construction

The construction of the Rookwood Weir was managed by the Rookwood Weir Alliance, comprising Sunwater, GHD (as the design proponent) and a construction proponent. The project was jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government.

The Rookwood Weir scope of works included:

• construction of an uncontrolled concrete gravity weir on the Fitzroy River, downstream of
  the Mackenzie and Dawson River systems
• structural works on the right riverbank including the installation of intake screens, a
  low flow outlet and fishlock
• earth fill and concrete abutments.

Enabling works

1. Thirsty Creek Road upgrade

The Thirsty Creek Road upgrade was delivered by the Rockhampton Regional Council and ensured the local road network could safely accommodate construction traffic. Works included:

• widening a 16.2km section of Thirsty Creek Road to 6.5 m, from the intersection of Riverslea Road to the Rookwood Weir site
• applying a bitumen seal to identified road segments
• upgrading existing culverts.

2. Gogango Intersection upgrade

The Gogango Intersection upgrade ensured construction traffic could safely cross the Capricorn Highway when travelling to the site. Works included:

• relocating the existing intersection approximately 200 m west – from the Capricorn Highway to the
  Riverslea Road rail crossing
• widening the pavement to create a new intersection layout, including resurfacing and line
  marking.

3. Riverslea Bridge upgrade

A new bridge at Riverslea was constructed to replace the existing crossing, which would otherwise be inundated when the Rookwood Weir reaches full supply. As traffic volumes are low, only a single lane crossing was required. Works included:

• constructing a 190 m long, 4.2 m wide, 18 m high concrete bridge structure
• constructing and line marking a single 3.5 m road lane
• connecting the approaches to the bridge with the existing road, including passing bays at
  both ends
• demolishing the existing culvert crossing.

4. Hanrahan Crossing upgrade