Construction update
Billabong Creek regulators
The NSW Government has received approval to replace 2 ageing weirs along Billabong Creek at Hartwood and Wanganella with new regulators incorporating vertical slot fishways.
Visit Billabong Creek Regulators
Works to replace Cheverells Creek offtake regulator now underway
Works to replace the Cheverells Creek offtake regulator near Morundah are now underway. Permission to undertake the works outside of standard construction working hours has been granted.
Part of the NSW Government’s Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) Acceleration Program, the Yanco Creek Modernisation Project aims to modernise infrastructure to enable smarter use of water in the Yanco Creek system – including Yanco, Billabong, Colombo and Forest creeks.
About the Yanco Creek system
The Yanco Creek system links two of Australia’s largest rivers—the Murrumbidgee and Murray, through over 800 km of interconnected waterways in the Riverina region of southwestern NSW.
The creek system commences in the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri people and flows through Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa, Wamba Wamba and Bangerang traditional country.
These local waterways support many important uses including farming, town water supply, native fish and waterbirds, and recreation. They also have significant cultural heritage value.
About the project
The project will allow water to be delivered more efficiently within the Yanco Creek system, minimising water losses.
The department’s Water Group has investigated a range of options to improve water management in the Yanco Creek system, including monitoring, controls, alternative supply points and operating rules.
We have assessed these options against social, cultural, environmental and economic considerations, and are moving forward with works which will deliver strong environmental and community benefits.
Project status
Billabong Creek replacement works
The NSW Government is replacing 2 ageing weirs along Billabong Creek at Hartwood and Wanganella with new regulators incorporating vertical slot fishways.
Work to set up the sites is scheduled to start in March 2026, and construction will continue throughout the year with practical completion scheduled for December 2026. Commissioning and handover of the regulators is scheduled for early 2027.
Find out more at: Billabong Creek regulators
Cheverells Creek offtake regulator update
Works to replace the Cheverells Creek offtake regulator near Morundah are now underway. Replacing the regulator will increase capacity and allow higher passing flows.
To ensure the contractor, Leed Engineering and Construction, can complete the construction works in a timely manner, minimising the duration of impacts on the surrounding area, permission to undertake the works outside of standard working hours has been granted.
Leed will be working:
- a 10 days on, 4 days off work roster starting on Tuesday 10 February
- from 6am to 6pm on rostered days
- on some Saturdays, Sundays and NSW public holidays.
The works are expected to take 6 months to complete.
A noise and vibration assessment, conducted as part of the Review of Environmental Factors for the works indicated noise and vibration impacts on the surrounding area are likely to be low.
We understand these works may cause some inconvenience and appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation while we complete this important infrastructure project.
Leed has also started work to replace the Forest Creek return regulator near Conargo and Wilson Anabranch offtake regulator near Jerilderie.
Project details
The project includes:
- new regulators and access culverts to allow more efficient delivery of environmental water into the Forest Creek system including Wanganella Swamp
- two new Billabong Creek regulators to replace ageing fixed crest weirs
- a new Wilsons Anabranch Offtake regulator
- a new regulator to return unplanned flows in Forest Creek downstream of Warriston Weir back to the Billabong Creek via Piccaninny Creek
- four new hydrometric measurement stations to improve flow measurement at strategic locations across the Yanco Creek system
- new environmental flow provisions for the Yanco Creek system
- new operating rules for the delivery of water from irrigation escapes into the Yanco Creek system
- improved use of technology to allow new infrastructure to be managed efficiently.
Project benefits include:
- more efficient delivery of environmental water
- improved fish passage (e.g. new fishways)
- improved knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal cultural heritage
- improved Connection-to-Country for Traditional Owners
- an economic, training and employment boost for local communities during project delivery
- improved levels of services (e.g. more flexible timing to irrigation scheduling)
- reduced risk of further non-strategic water market purchases from the southern-connected Basin to meet NSW Basin Plan commitments.
Environmental planning and assessments
View the project's Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation [Clause 171(4)] publications.
| Date | Document name |
|---|---|
| 03 December 2025 | Yanco Creek Modernisation Project: Wanganella swamp REF (PDF, 15.15 MB) |
| 01 September 2024 | Yanco Creek Modernisation Project: Cheverells Creek Offtake Regulator REF (PDF, 11.33 MB) |
| 01 October 2024 | Yanco Creek Modernisation Project: Wilson Anabranch Offtake REF (PDF, 20.67 MB) |
See the Billabong Creek regulators webpage for information about the Environmental Impact Statement for replacing the Hartwood and Wanganella weirs.
Stakeholder and community engagement
The Water Group is committed to working together with stakeholders to design and deliver the best possible results for the region and its communities.
We formed a stakeholder advisory group to guide the project decision-making process. It includes representatives from key stakeholder groups, local landholders and Traditional Owners.
We have provided opportunities for local communities and stakeholders to have their say on the project throughout the stages of development. This feedback has been used as a key input into project decision making.
We will continue to engage with the community as we move through construction.
Engagement opportunities will be listed on this webpage and on the Water Group’s have your say page.
Engagement with First Nations people
We recognise and acknowledge the unique relationship, understanding and deep Connection-to-Country First Nations people have as the Traditional Owners and first peoples of Australia, and this plays a crucial role in informing our approach to the project.
We have worked closely with First Nations communities to complete Aboriginal cultural heritage studies of the project sites and we will have First Nations representatives on site during construction to monitor works and ensure cultural artefacts are preserved and protected.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the frequently asked questions about the project.
The Yanco Creek Modernisation Project aims to:
- maintain and improve flows
- keep the Yanco, Billabong, Forest and Colombo Creeks flowing
- be smart in the use of available water
- modernise ageing infrastructure
- ensure project benefits for irrigators, town water supplies, native fish, water birds, culture and heritage and recreational use.
This project is part of the broader Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) Acceleration Program and is being delivered by the NSW Government with funding from the Australian Government.
We are committed to having a whole of government approach to the delivery of the project. WaterNSW is a key stakeholder and is expected to be the ultimate owner and operator of most of the new infrastructure once delivered. WaterNSW is a member of the project’s design focus group and has significant input into project design and operational considerations.
The project is part of the SDLAM Acceleration Program. The program will deliver up to 45 GL of the outstanding amount needed to reach the 605 GL target required by the Murray Darling Basin Plan each year, delivering strong ecological outcomes for the Murray-Darling Basin.
Early estimates indicate the project, in combination with the Computer Aided River Management (CARM) project, will deliver about 16 GL of water savings per year on average.
This project is identifying real world outcomes to benefit this community. Each element of this project it attempting to provide benefit for all creek users. The project is focused on smarter and more efficient water use, as opposed to taking water away from the Yanco Creek system.
The project uses Environmental Water Requirements (EWRs) to provide a best available scientific approach to assess real world outcomes. Although there are several similarities, this approach is different to the current reconciliation process used by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).
Based on the reconciliation process used by MDBA, early estimates indicate the project, in combination with the Computer Aided River Management (CARM) project, will deliver about 16 GL of water savings per year on average.
Many of the Yanco sub-projects include the construction and restoration of fish passage between water bodies, enabling native fish to safely bypass obstacles such as weirs and fish barriers. By re-establishing these travel corridors, various species will have greater access to habitat and breeding areas.
The most significant fish passage investments include the construction of vertical slot fishways at the new Hartwood and Wanganella regulators. These fishways will enable fish to swim from downstream to upstream of the regulator during minimum flows up to flood flows.
We are working closely with the Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries. They are a member of the project’s design focus group and are a key stakeholder. DPI Fisheries has made historical fish research in the Yanco Creek system available, including fish monitoring analysis, barriers to fish passage information and best practice design and construction information for the development of fishways.
In March 2024, DPI Fisheries completed native fish habitat surveys in areas both upstream and downstream of the new proposed Hartwood and Wanganella regulators.
Fish restocking is beyond the scope of the infrastructure being delivered through the project; however, we will continue to work with other government departments as appropriate.
The Yanco Stakeholder Advisory Group was set up to provide the project team with high quality, well considered strategic advice and recommendations on matters related to the project.
The group is chaired by an independent facilitator and is an important part of the governance of the project. It comprises representatives of relevant local organisations including:
- local councils (Murrumbidgee Council, Federation Council, and Edward River Council)
- Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council
- First Nations groups
- Creek Country Alliance
- Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists
- NSW Farmers Association
- recreation/tourism representatives.
The project’s Design Focus Group includes technical specialists and advisors from organisations including:
- WaterNSW
- NSW Fisheries
- the Water Group
- 3Rivers Partnership
- external contractors with relevant technical expertise (e.g., construction)
There is one First Nations position on the Yanco Stakeholder Advisory Group. Other First Nations representatives have attended advisory group meetings as observers.
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Contact us
For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au