About the project
The NSW Government is replacing 2 ageing weirs along Billabong Creek at Hartwood and Wanganella with new regulators.
The existing weirs, which were built in the early 20th century, are in poor condition, restrict fish movement and limit regulated flows through the Yanco Creek system, leading to inefficient delivery of water for the environment and water users.
The new regulators will be fully automated, remotely operated and will include vertical-slot fishways, allowing water to be delivered more efficiently through the creek system and improving native fish passage.
Work to set up the sites started in April 2026. Construction will continue throughout the year with practical completion scheduled for December 2026. Commissioning and handover of the regulators is scheduled for early 2027.
Replacing the Billabong Creek regulators is part of a range of infrastructure works being undertaken as part of the Yanco Creek Modernisation Project. This project is one of 5 projects being delivered as part of the NSW Government's Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism Acceleration Program, with funding from the Australian Government.
Project status
Construction is now underway at both the Hartwood and Wanganella regulator sites.
The green light to proceed with replacing the 2 weirs was granted following an extensive consultation process including public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement in November 2024.
The department’s Water Group awarded the contract to Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure following a competitive tender process.
About the new regulators
The new regulators will be located along Billabong Creek approximately 100 metres downstream of the old Hartwood and Wanganella weirs. The existing weirs will be removed after the new regulators are installed.
The construction process for the new regulators is designed to minimise impacts on water flowing through Billabong Creek, allowing water to continue to pass through for irrigation, town water and environmental purposes.
During the construction period there will be increased truck traffic along local roads including the Cobb Highway between Deniliquin and Wanganella and Conargo Road between Deniliquin and Jerilderie.
Access to the area around the new Wanganella regulator site will be restricted while work is underway, however access to Wanganella Recreation Reserve further upstream and downstream of the work site will remain open.
Regulator designs
View the designs of the new regulators below:
Project timeline
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February 2026
Planning approval
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April 2026
Site establishment and in-stream pre-construction works
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May 2026
Construction of the regulators and fishways and installation of new powerlines commences
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December 2026
Practical completion of regulators
-
February 2027
Demolition of existing weirs
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March 2027
Commissioning and handover of regulators
Environmental Impact Statement
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for replacing the Billabong Creek regulators went on public exhibition from 1 November to 28 November 2024.
The EIS outlined:
- the proposed construction and operational footprint of two new Billabong Creek regulators
- findings from the environmental and cultural heritage assessments
- proposed steps to be taken to avoid or reduce impacts during construction and operation.
The public exhibition of the EIS allowed community members, stakeholders and businesses the opportunity to learn more and help shape this important infrastructure project.
See documents relating to the determination of the Billabong Creek EIS, including the Response to Submissions below.
Application
Planning Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
- EIS summary
- EIS main report
- EIS exhibition notice
- Appendix A SEARs compliance table
- Appendix B detailed maps and plans
- Appendix C statutory compliance
- Appendix D environmental risk assessment
- Appendix E consultation report
- Appendix F mitigation measures
- Appendix G hydrology assessment
- Appendix H flood impact assessment
- Appendix I groundwater assessment
- Appendix J geomorphology assessment
- Appendix K water quality and aquatic ecology assessment
- Appendix L terrestrial flora and fauna assessment
- Appendix M Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment
- Appendix N non-Aboriginal heritage assessment report
- Appendix O land use assessment
- Appendix P traffic and access impacts assessment
- Appendix Q noise and vibration impact assessment
- Appendix R social impact assessment
- Appendix S ecologically sustainable development and climate risk assessments
- Appendix T contamination assessment
- Appendix U draft Yanco Creek System operations plan
Agency advice on the Environmental Impact Statement
- Dams Safety NSW advice
- Murray Darling Basin Authority advice
- NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- NSW Environment Protection Authority advice
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service advice
- NSW State Emergency Service advice
- Transport for NSW advice
- WaterNSW advice
Response to submissions
- Request for response to submissions
- Submission report
- Appendix A updated mitigation measures
- Appendix B additional design drawings
- Appendix C additional hydrology and flooding drawings
- Appendix D updated terrestrial flora and fauna assessment
- Appendix E contaminated land assessment
- Appendix F Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment
- Appendix G environmental entitlement modelling
- Appendix H hydrologic model review checklist
Agency responses to submissions report
- Edward River Council response
- NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- NSW Environment Protection Authority response
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service response
- NSW State Emergency Service response
- Transport for NSW response
- WaterNSW response
Additional information
Agency responses to additional information report
- NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Final Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment
- WaterNSW response
Post approval documents
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan appendix
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan approval
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan - superseded
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan approval - superseded
- Aboriginal cultural heritage management plan endorsement - superseded
- Ancillary facility site establishment management plan
- Ancillary facility site establishment management plan approval
- Ancillary facility site establishment management plan endorsement
- Biodiversity management plan
- Biodiversity management plan approval
- Community communication strategy
- Community communication strategy approval
- Construction environmental management plan
- Construction environmental management plan approval
- Construction environmental management plan endorsement
- Environmental risk register
- Local accommodation and employment management plan
- Local accommodation and employment management plan approval
- Soil and water management plan
- Soil and water management plan approval
- Soil and water management plan endorsement
- Unexpected heritage find procedure
- Unexpected heritage find procedure approval
- Unexpected heritage find procedure endorsement
- Unexpected threatened species finds procedure
- Unexpected threatened species finds procedure approval
- Biodiversity Conservation Fund offset payment confirmation
- Changed timeframes for action application
- Changed timeframes for action approval
- Environmental Representative approval
- Extended working hours application
- Extended working hours approval
- Extended working hours consultation report
- Extended working hours construction noise and vibration management plan
About vertical slot fishways
The new regulators will feature vertical slot fishways to provide a passageway to help fish migrate safely upstream and downstream.
Vertical slot fishways consist of a concrete channel bypassing a regulator or weir.
Fishways enable native fish to migrate to complete key life stages and to avoid drying habitats during drought.
An example of a vertical slot fishway is shown below:
To learn more about vertical slot fishways, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries Fisheries website.
Translation services
If you need help understanding this information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 1800 801 738.
Contact us
For questions, feedback or complaints about the Billabong Creek regulator works:
- call: 1800 801 738
- email: water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au
- mail:
Billabong Creek Regulators Project
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124
Your personal information will be handled in line with the department’s privacy statement.
Please note:
(a) the Complaints Register may be forwarded to government agencies, including the Department and its representatives (including independent appointments such as the environmental representative for the regulators approved by the Planning Secretary), to allow them to undertake their regulatory duties
(b) by providing personal information, you authorise the department to provide that information to government agencies
(c) the personal information you provide is voluntary
(d) you have the right to contact government agencies to access personal information held about you and to correct or amend that information (Collection Statement).