{"id":124815,"date":"2015-10-24T01:34:33","date_gmt":"2015-10-23T15:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=124815"},"modified":"2020-11-09T21:30:48","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T11:30:48","slug":"mccauley-weir-yes-or-no","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/10\/24\/mccauley-weir-yes-or-no\/","title":{"rendered":"McCauley Weir … Yes Or No?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NaTDA members Terry and Rhonda Mackrell and president Gloria Kirkness were taken on an inspection tour of McCauley Weir by SBRC Infrastructure General Manager Russell Hood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 24, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

It could cost as much as $500,000 to re-open McCauley Weir for recreational fishing and boating, the Nanango Tourism and Development Association was told on Friday.<\/p>\n

A delegation from NaTDA was taken on an inspection tour of the weir by South Burnett Regional Council’s Infrastructure General Manager Russell Hood.<\/p>\n

As no one has published any photos of the weir since 2004, southburnett.com.au<\/strong> accompanied the delegation so our readers could get a rare glimpse of this little-known part of the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

Mr Hood told the group an estimate of $270,000 to re-open the site that NaTDA had been given was probably costed many years ago.<\/p>\n

He said $500,000 was a more likely figure now, although the final cost would depend on how much work needed to be done.<\/p>\n

The weir is located south-east of Nanango on Cooyar Creek, near the Seven Mile Diggings.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was built in 1953 and was the original source of Nanango’s reticulated water supply, as well as being a popular recreation spot for local residents.<\/p>\n

Public access was blocked with a locked gate by the former Nanango Shire Council when the town’s water supply began to be drawn from Barker Creek and the weir’s water processing facilities were mothballed.<\/p>\n

Residents were encouraged to use recreational facilities at Tarong Power Station instead, a practice that continued until that area was closed permanently to the public.<\/p>\n

In March 2012, the South Burnett Regional Council voted to continue blocking public access to McCauley Weir because the access road was unsafe.<\/p>\n

NaTDA and local fishing groups began agitating for the weir to be reopened in 2013.<\/p>\n

Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said at the time he sympathised with their views but with flood repairs in full swing Council had higher priorities.<\/p>\n

NaTDA then asked the Council if it would allow them to inspect the site so the group could get a better idea of the problems at first hand.<\/p>\n

Friday’s visit – which followed a recent site inspection by several Councillors and senior staff – was offered by Council CEO Gary Wall.<\/p>\n

Mr Hood showed the delegation that while the unsealed access road could be navigated by 4WD vehicles, it was narrow and steep and unsuitable for ordinary vehicles in its current condition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The edge of the road also had several precipitous drops which would require Council to install safety rails if it were to be re-opened for public use.<\/p>\n

It would also be necessary to either conduct extensive widening or install automated traffic controls to allow vehicles to move safely up and down the road.<\/p>\n

Mr Hood said that if the weir was re-opened for recreation, the State Government would most likely ban the use of motorised boats to preserve the ecological qualities of the area.<\/p>\n

He said Council would also be obliged to seal off – or demolish and remove – two old pumping stations on the site which possibly contained asbestos.<\/p>\n

Council would also have to conduct regular water testing, carry out garbage collections and other site maintenance work.<\/p>\n

To provide full access, Council would also have to rebuild a small bridge on the foreshore which had been destroyed many years ago.<\/p>\n

Composting toilets and other amenities would also have to be installed for picnickers.<\/p>\n

“This all adds up,” Mr Hood said.<\/p>\n

“We can’t just look at the cost of refurbishing the site, the ongoing maintenance will also cost ratepayers money every year.<\/p>\n

“That has to be taken into consideration, too.”<\/p>\n

Mr Hood said the tourist parks at Bjelke-Petersen Dam and Lake Boondooma were significant revenue earners for Council and the money they generated was ploughed back into Council’s Budget to provide other services to ratepayers.<\/p>\n

But McCauley Weir was unlikely to generate any revenue; instead, it would cost ratepayers money.<\/p>\n

NaTDA President Gloria Kirkness said she understood the points Mr Hood had raised, and appreciated the opportunity for her and other NaTDA members to see the site.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It’s a beautiful area and it would be lovely to see it re-opened to the public,” she said.<\/p>\n

“But with all the money Council has spent in Nanango over the last few years replacing the Drayton Street bridge and upgrading the CBD, I can understand we’ve probably had a bit more than our fair share and need to pull our heads in for a while.”<\/p>\n

Mrs Kirkness said the group would discuss the issue at its next meeting but thanked Council for helping the group get a better understanding of the problems involved.<\/p>\n

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