Bangalow Weir Ecological Assessment
Client: Byron Shire Council
GeoLINK was engaged by Byron Shire Council (BSC) to assess the potential ecological impacts (specifically impacts to the Platypus) resulting from lowered water levels in Bangalow Weir Pool.
Bangalow Weir is located on Byron Creek at Bangalow and was constructed circa 1925, initially of logs and replaced by concrete in the 1960s. It was built as a community swimming facility rather than for a water supply. BSC have been responsible for maintenance of the weir since c1970. The weir wall was observed, in approximately April 2011, to have partially failed. The pipe in the weir wall has subsequently been opened and the resulting upstream water level has reduced by approximately 1 m returning the water level to that experienced some 90 years ago.
Bangalow Weir Pool and Byron Creek, both upstream and downstream were found to provide suitable resting / nesting and foraging habitat for Platypus. The weir drawdown appears to have had minimal negative impact on Platypus and it is expected that the impact on the greater population in the area is also negligible.