Weirs

One of the least concerning looking hazards is actually one of the more lethal dangers that you are likely to encounter on the Macquarie River. Without firsthand experience, I do not know how well these weirs are marked. In the right conditions some weirs can be hard to see from a distance, stay alert.

The dangers posed by a weir are very dependent on the flow. With no flow it is just a hassle to portage over it. With very high flows it may be fully submerged and may not even create a ripple. However, with the right flow many of the weirs can create a perfect hydraulic across the structure that even the most experienced paddler may not be able to escape.

There is only one way to safely navigate a flowing weir, to portage around it. The current can be deceptively strong near the weir, so stay close to the river bank and exit well before the weir. Below the weir wall there will likely be a strong upstream current going back towards the weir as the eddy flow is recirculating back. Finish your portage below well below these currents.

Key Weirs along the Macquarie River

All weirs have been pieced together from misc sources. Many have not been confirmed as I either paddled in high flow or haven't been to any of these areas yet.

Many of the sourced images are old and the weirs may have been since been upgraded.

Name	Hazard	Info
Bathurst Waterworks Weir	Weir	Storage for town supply.
Rock Weir	Weir	First of two small loose rock weirs that have been partially deconstructed to create a fish passageway.
Rock Weir	Weir	Just downstream of the other rock weir.
Burrendong Dam	Dam	Controls the flow for domestic, environmental and agricultural usage in the Macquarie Valley.
Falls Rd	Crossing
South Dubbo Weir	Weir	Forms a pumping pool for irrigation and domestic water. Also known as the Dubbo City Council Weir.
North Dubbo Weir	Weir
Narromine Weir	Weir	Forms a pumping pool for irrigation.
Gin Gin Weir	Weir	Forms a pumping pool for irrigation.
Warren (Top) Weir	Weir	Controls flow diversion to Gunningbar Creek from which further regulators supply Duck Creek, Crooked Creek and the Albert Priest Canal (man-made)
Bryan Egan Weir	Weir	Also known as the Warren Shire Council Weir.
Marebone Weir	Weir	Marebone Weir upstream of the Macquarie Marshes supplies water to Marra and Bulgeraga Creeks.