The works will involve replacing two of the trestles that help control the flow of water through the weir. It might sound like a fairly straightforward job, but when you are talking about the Murray River, Lock 11, irrigation, pumps, boats, paddle steamers and a weir system that has been part of Mildura life for nearly a century, there is a fair bit involved.
Lock 11 closed to all river traffic this afternoon, Monday 8 June, ahead of the works starting tomorrow.
The works are expected to be finished by Sunday 5 July.
During this time, the weir pool upstream will be gradually lowered, and river users may notice lower river levels and exposed riverbank around Mildura, Gol Gol and Buronga. River levels upstream of the weir are expected to drop by around 3.5 metres while the work is carried out.
That means anyone using the river over the next few weeks will need to keep their eyes open. Boat operators, houseboat users, fishos, river pumpers and anyone with gear close to the water should be aware that the river may not look the way it normally does.
Lock Island will also be closed during the day from 7am to 6pm while works are underway, but it will reopen in the evenings so people can still access the Trail of Lights.
The job is expected to take about four weeks all up, including time to lower the weir pool and then refill it again once the work is complete.
For locals, the lowering of the river is always a bit of a sight. It exposes bits of bank, snags and riverbed that are usually hidden under water. It can look a bit odd if you are used to seeing the Murray sitting at its normal level through town, but this is part of keeping the infrastructure working.
The Mildura Weir and Lock 11 have been a huge part of the river story here since the 1920s. Construction began in 1923 and the lock was completed in 1927. The system helped create a more reliable river level for irrigation, navigation and the paddle steamers that are still part of Mildura’s identity today.
The weir itself is made up of 24 steel trestles, each weighing about 11 tonnes. These trestles can be removed when needed, including during flood flows and maintenance works. It is one of those pieces of infrastructure most of us probably drive or walk past without thinking too much about, but without it the river through Mildura would be a very different looking place.
Goulburn-Murray Water has also made it clear that these current works are not part of the larger Mildura Weir replacement project. Planning is underway separately for the long-term future of the century-old weir, but this June work is regular maintenance aimed at keeping the existing structure operating safely and reliably.
So, from tomorrow, expect the river to start looking different, with Lock 11 already out of action after closing to river traffic this afternoon.
If you are planning to be on or around the water, take the lower levels into account.
It might be a bit of an inconvenience for river users, but it is also a rare chance to see a different side of the Murray through Mildura — the hidden banks, the exposed edges, and a reminder of just how much work goes into keeping this river system ticking along.