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Rookwood Weir
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About
The Rookwood Weir Water Supply Scheme (RWWSS) services water users in the Lower Fitzroy, from the junction of the Dawson and Mackenzie rivers, down the Fitzroy River to the Fitzroy Barrage, in Rockhampton.
The scheme includes Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu, pronounced Ma-na-ge-bay Ga-moo) which is situated on the Fitzroy River, 66 kilometres south-west of Rockhampton, on the traditional Country of the Darumbal peoples. It is neighboured by the traditional Country of the Jetimala and Gaangulu Nation peoples.
Completed in 2023, the weir is an ungated concrete gravity structure with a full supply volume is 74,325 ML. It provides improved water security and allows for the diversification of crops and agriculture in Central Queensland.
How the scheme works
Water supply schemes are managed to collect, store, move and distribute water to customers. Scheme assets - such as Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu) - enhance water reliability to meet the needs of the region for today and the future.
The RWWSS is managed to achieve optimal performance for water holders and protect urban water security. Water storage levels are monitored across the RWWSS and the Lower Fitzroy scheme and if they fall below a specific level, water supply restrictions are implemented. These operating requirements form part of the scheme’s planning process to support economic growth without impacting urban centres.
Water uses
- Irrigation
- Agriculture
- Urban water supply for Livingstone Shire Council.
Indigenous Land Use Agreement
During the delivery of the Rookwood Weir Project, every effort was made to create and continue a positive and collaborative relationship with Traditional custodians in the area - the Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (DPAC), Jetimarla and Gaangalu Nation peoples.
An Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) was developed and signed between the DPAC, the Queensland Government and Sunwater in April 2022. It includes benefits from the construction phase through to ongoing operation of the weir and ensures shared economic and social outcomes for the First Nations People.
Mutual benefits were negotiated through the agreement and include:
- employment opportunities for DPAC within Sunwater
- business opportunities to deliver of environmental services such as water sampling, turtle nest monitoring and protection and feral pest management
- co-naming of new or rebuilt infrastructure
- a water allocation from the supply scheme.
DPAC gifted the traditional language name Managibei Gamu meaning ‘keeping-saving water’ to be used in addition to the English language name Rookwood Weir.
Environmental protection
The Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu) is subject to several environmental conditions. These ensure the weir does not negatively impact the wildlife, vegetation and environment in the surrounding area.
Environmental conditions include:
- water quality monitoring
- land management
- offset strategies and management plans
- turtle and fish management and infrastructure
- feral pest management.
Sunwater is required to report on these conditions against set targets.
Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu) features a world-first turtle passage. This specially designed and constructed pathway allows turtles to pass from one side of the weir to the other.
The weir is the first of Sunwater’s assets subject to such environmental conditions.
Scheme Management
Sunwater must comply with the conditions set out in the Rookwood Weir Water Supply Scheme Resource Operations Licence (ROL) issued to Sunwater in June 2024 by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW). The ROL outlines the infrastructure details, environmental release rules and all Sunwater's monitoring and reporting obligations.
The ROL also requires Sunwater to operate in accordance with an operations manual (OM) that is approved by DRDMW. The manual outlines rules for the operation of infrastructure associated with the Rookwood Weir Water Supply Scheme (RWWSS) as well as water sharing and seasonal water assignment (temporary trade) rules.
The Rookwood Weir Water Supply Scheme ROL Operations Manual was issued in June 2024.
Taking water from the scheme
Sunwater’s ordering system allows for the efficient and timely delivery of water to customers. Before taking water, customers need relevant water infrastructure assets, including meters and pumps, to be installed. Customers should always order water ahead of time to allow Sunwater to plan releases and minimise losses. Customers who take water without ordering may reduce Sunwater’s ability to supply other customers who have ordered properly.
To place an order
Customers can place orders via Sunwater Customer Support on 13 15 89 or by calling the Water Duty Officer on 07 3130 0214 outside business hours.
Customers should cancel orders if they no longer require the water.
Further information about ordering water is detailed in Rookwood Weir's Rules and Targets.
Delivery timing
Orders should be placed at least 72 hours before taking water from the scheme.
Stopping or restricting supply
Sunwater may suspend or restrict supply:
- during maintenance of its assets
- during a peak demand period, when rosters or rations may apply
- when the demand for water is so small it is impractical to supply it
- when there is a need to make special releases to maximise efficiency at times of limited supply
- during rain shutdowns
- when there are infrastructure limitations which make delivery impractical
- if it could cause Sunwater to contravene legislative requirements, ROL or Operations Manual requirements
- when operating under special notices or regulations issued by DRDMW.
Weather events
Sunwater asks that customers notify the Water Duty Officer on 07 3130 0214, as soon as possible, if any rain event or other circumstances significantly impacts their need for the water ordered. When there is a widespread general rain event over the RWWSS, the Water Duty Officer may shut the water ordering system down.
Emergency shutdowns
Emergency shutdowns occur when mechanical or operational failure of infrastructure stops or restricts the supply of water. Sunwater will notify affected customers.
For more information contact
If you experience an equipment or power failure emergency, please give immediate notice to Sunwater by calling Sunwater customer support on 13 15 89 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Water allocations
Operating storage levels must be met at Eden Bann Weir and Fitzroy Barrage (both located downstream of Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu)) before water allocations can be accessed. When these levels are met allocation holders can take 100 per cent of their entitlements. The amount of water taken under a water allocation in a water year must not exceed the nominal volume.
When water levels in the Fitzroy Barrage drop below EL 1.85m AHD, medium priority (MP) water allocation holders from Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu) must cease taking water. This restriction period remains in place until water levels return to EL 1.95m AHD at the Fitzroy Barrage.
For high priority (HP) water allocations holders, a restriction period comes into effect when the water level in Fitzroy Barrage falls below EL 0.75m AHD.
At this time, Sunwater will assign a HP demand pattern, where allocation holders can take a percentage of their total water. This restriction period ceases when water levels in the Fitzroy Barrage return above 0.85m AHD.
Customers are notified when restriction periods commence, and when they end. HP allocation holders are also advised of the percentage of the total allocation available during restriction periods.
Customers can access information about their account balances by contacting customer support via phone 13 15 89 or email customersupport@sunwater.com.au
Aquatic ecology
Vegetation and habitat
Scheme news
Scheme history
Rookwood Weir Water Supply Scheme
Rookwood Weir (Managibei Gamu) provides Central Queensland with an additional source of water for agriculture, urban and industrial needs. Through the enhanced water security the weir provides, landholders can expand their operations or transition to intensive irrigated crop production.
In February 2017, the then Australian Minister for the Environment and Energy approved the plan to build the weir. The project was jointly funded by Sunwater and the Australian and Queensland governments. Sunwater partnered with designer GHD and construction joint-venture partners McCosker Contracting and ACCIONA to build the weir. The project team moved more than 800,000 m3 of soil and poured 131,000 m3 of concrete before construction was completed in November 2023.
The project contributed more than $270 million to the Central Queensland economy and is expected to create approximately 500 full-time and seasonal jobs to support agriculture growth. Many of the 30 apprentices and trainees who worked on constructing the weir and surrounding enabling works completed their trade course requirements while on the project.