North Coast Lavertys Gap Weir erosion repair
Contact point
Client
NSW Reconstruction Authority (for Byron Shire Council)
Services
Project management and contract management
Background
The Lavertys Gap Weir erosion repair project addressed two significant erosion sites adjacent to the state heritage listed Laverty’s Gap Weir on Wilsons Creek, Byron Shire. The client required a solution to remediate erosion scours and restore the integrity of the weir, which was critical due to it supplying water to the town of Mullumbimby.
NSW Public Works (PW) was engaged to manage the project and deliver the design and construction works, ensuring compliance with environmental and heritage requirements while minimising disruption to the local area. The works were completed within 12 weeks, restoring the weir’s structural integrity, reducing future erosion risk, and supporting long‑term water‑infrastructure sustainability.
Construction timelapse
Key facts
- Works undertaken by tracked trucks, siphons, excavators on top of barges, and a Blackhawk helicopter
- Two siphons pumped 574 megalitres of water during the works, maintaining the reduction of the height of water in the weir pool by 1.5 metres
- Installation of engineered clay, geofabric, geosynthetic clay liner, aggregate, and large boulders
Our role
PW managed the end-to-end delivery of the project including project management, procurement for design, Landholder Access Deed to enable construction works on private land, procurement for construction, and contract management during construction.
The project required careful planning and execution due to the heritage status of the weir and the challenging site conditions, including steep and flood-prone terrain.
Built in the 1920s, the Weir is listed on the NSW State Heritage register so PW’s specialist heritage team prepared impact reports and gained the required permits to ensure all works complied with the Water Management Act 2000 and Heritage Act 1977. To meet the stringent safety, environmental, and quality standards required, PW also facilitated collaboration between contractors, consultants and the client to achieve the best possible outcome.
The challenging site conditions meant a Blackhawk helicopter was required to transport armouring rock, each weighing up to 3 tonne, and skips of concrete to the weir site. It also required the construction of a temporary unsealed access road and barge landing area and managing the floating of a barge and machinery to the site. To ensure the team could undertake the works safely and successfully, PW oversaw the installation of land-based and in-stream sediment control measures and continuously operated a siphon throughout the works.
Outcomes
The project restored the structural integrity of the weir, reduced the risk of future erosion, and now supports the long-term sustainability of local water infrastructure.
Key targets included the successful remediation of both upstream and downstream scours, compliance with all heritage and environmental approvals, and the safe completion of works within the 12-week program.
The project enhanced flood resilience for the Byron Shire community and protects critical water assets for future generations.
