River passing through a park

Weirs

Fast flowing river over weir

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.

Nasty looking weir

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

Name Hazard
Image of feature Bathurst Waterworks Weir Weir

Storage for town supply.

Portage seems easist on the left rather than in the willows on the right.
Image of feature Rock Weir Weir

First of two small loose rock weirs that have been partially deconstructed to create a fish passageway.
Image of feature Rock Weir Weir

Just downstream of the other rock weir.
Image of feature Burrendong Dam Dam

Controls the flow for domestic, environmental and agricultural usage in the Macquarie Valley.

Additional images: Image Two, Image Three
Image of feature
 Falls Rd Causeway

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South Dubbo Weir Weir

Forms a pumping pool for irrigation and domestic water. Also known as the Dubbo City Council Weir.

Additional images: Image Two
Image of feature North Dubbo Weir Weir

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Additional images: Image Two
Image of feature
 Narromine Weir Weir

Forms a pumping pool for irrigation.
Image of feature
 Old Gin Gin Weir Weir

Forms a pumping pool for irrigation.

The 9m concrete overflow weir built around the 1900s was damaged in the floods of 1903, reducing the height from 9 m to 5 m. It's original purpose was to direct water into Crooked Creek that flowed to Ewenmar Creek, but a channel now connects this all the way to Marthaguy Creek.

There are plans to replace the weir with a new structure 200m downstream. The new gated weir will have an operating range of 0 to 8.5 m and a fishway. Another 3.5 m flood mitagration with a operating storage capacity of 6 GL.

Additional images: Image Two
Image of feature
 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).

Portage is on the right due to the diversion to Gunningbar Creek on the left.

Additional images: Image Two
Image of feature
 Bryan Egan Weir Weir

Also known as the Warren Shire Council Weir.

Additional images: Image Two
Image of feature Marebone Weir Weir

Marebone Weir upstream of the Macquarie Marshes supplies water to Marra and Bulgeraga Creeks.

Additional images: Image Two
  • Causeway
  • Dam or Reservoir
  • Weir or Low Head Dams