A critical upgrade is coming for the historic Audley Weir with the installation of new automated gates and other flood management equipment.
The automated gates are expected to be in place early next year, subject to approvals.
Maryanne Stuart, Member for Heathcote, thanked residents for taking the time to contact and meet with her about the impact of the weir’s closures. Ms. Stuart raised their concerns with Transport for NSW who have responded to the community’s feedback about the increased number of closures in recent years and the inconvenience caused to motorists, prompting the need for further action.
This follows the installation of a series of live-traffic cameras to allow agencies and the community to view flood levels at the weir.
A temporary electronic message sign has been installed at the intersection of Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and Bundeena Drive to notify vehicles of weir closures, replacing the ageing ‘flip-sign’ to improve the reliability of information for the community.
In addition, permanent electronic signs have been installed at multiple locations to ensure road users are given advanced warnings of weir closures.
Transport for NSW has been working closely with National Parks and Wildlife Services and Sutherland Shire Council on resolving this critical issue and thanks both agencies for their ongoing support.
The historic weir has provided access to the Royal National Park for countless visitors and served a vital function for residents of nearby Bundeena for nearly 130 years.
On the 24th of September, Ms Stuart met with the Minister for Roads, the Hon. John Graham to discuss Audley Weir. Discussions included management strategies for the resolution of debris caught in the weir to provide a quick fix.
Easy and constant flow of water is imperative to minimising overflow on the weir. Ms. Stuart is committed to ongoing communication with the Audley, Bundeena, and Maianbar communities.
The community is encouraged to contact Transport for NSW on 131 700 to report any issues related to the weir.
The Live Traffic website (https://www.livetraffic.com/) will have the latest information on closures when the live-traffic cameras are installed.
Quotes Attributable to Maryanne Stuart, Member for Heathcote:
“Gates will be installed at both sides of the weir to stop vehicles from crossing during flooding and new live-traffic cameras will be installed to monitor flood levels at the weir.
“Audley Weir was built in 1883, partly to create a lake for recreation but also to provide access to this majestic national park – the first of its kind in Australia and the second oldest in the world behind Yellowstone in the US.
“It has served the community admirably, but the weir is coming under pressure due to increased usage as well as extreme weather that has led to an unusually high number of flooding incidents, so we’re bringing it into the 21st century.”
“This is the first step towards a management strategy. I will continue to advocate for infrastructure improvements.”
