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| Goobang Weir | |
|---|---|
| Name | Goobang Weir |
| Location | Parkes, New South Wales, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening | 1959 |
| Owner | New South Wales Department of Primary Industries |
| Dam type | Concrete gravity |
| Height | 16 m |
| Length | 304 m |
| Reservoir capacity total | 1,100 ML |
| Reservoir surface | 80 ha |
| Reservoir name | Goobang Reservoir |
Goobang Weir Goobang Weir is a small concrete weir serving irrigation and water supply needs in central New South Wales, Australia. The structure impounds the Goobang Creek to form a reservoir that supports local agriculture, regional water services, and recreational activities. It is managed within the institutional framework of New South Wales water authorities and features in regional planning for the Central West.
Goobang Weir functions as an infrastructure asset for water storage, supply and flow regulation in the Central West region, linking to broader networks such as the Lachlan River system, the Murrumbidgee Basin planning processes, and New South Wales water resource management. The facility is part of a mosaic of Australian waterworks including notable projects like the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Menindee Lakes, and Burrinjuck Dam, and it interacts administratively with entities such as the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Murray–Darling Basin Authority, and local government bodies like Parkes Shire Council. The weir contributes to irrigation districts, supports pastoral enterprises, and is referenced in regional development strategies alongside projects such as the Inland Rail and Western NSW initiatives.
The weir is situated near the town of Parkes in the central New South Wales Plains, within the broader landscape of the Lachlan Valley and near features such as the Macquarie River catchment and Forbes township. The site lies within the bioregions associated with the Great Dividing Range foothills, the Central Tablelands, and the Riverina fringe, and is accessible from major transport corridors including the Newell Highway and the Mitchell Highway. Nearby population centres and institutions include Parkes, Forbes, Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, and the Pilgrims' Way of regional rail lines. The local geography includes riparian corridors, remnant eucalypt woodlands, and agricultural landholdings typical of the Lachlan region.
Conceived in the mid-20th century to support post-war agricultural expansion and rural development, construction of the weir followed patterns established by Australian water projects such as the construction phases of Burrinjuck and Wyangala Dams. The structure was completed in 1959 under state oversight, during a period that saw investments influenced by policy debates in Canberra and Sydney concerning regional infrastructure and rural settlement schemes. Engineers and contractors experienced with projects like the Snowy Mountains Scheme and Commonwealth Works were drawn from firms active in New South Wales. The site has since seen maintenance works and upgrades coordinated with agencies comparable to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (for regional planning), and local utilities.
The weir is a concrete gravity-type structure, with a crest length and hydraulic profile designed to provide approximately 1,100 megalitres of storage in normal pool conditions. Its dimensions and spillway arrangements are consistent with small to medium storage facilities found across New South Wales, akin to design parameters seen at structures such as Glenbawn Dam (on a different scale) and smaller irrigation storages in the Murray–Darling Basin. Structural elements reflect standards promulgated by state engineering authorities and professional bodies like Engineers Australia. Instrumentation and control systems have been updated in line with asset management practices promoted by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and state water regulators, with provisions for overflow, gate control, and downstream flow releases.
Operational responsibility rests with state water agencies and local utilities that coordinate releases for irrigation, stock and domestic supply, and environmental flow obligations under frameworks similar to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Water allocation from the reservoir is scheduled in conjunction with seasonal inflow forecasts provided by the Bureau of Meteorology and catchment modelling approaches used by institutions such as the CSIRO and state water modelling teams. The weir’s operation is integrated with regional irrigation schemes, entitlements held by agricultural enterprises, and emergency management protocols used by New South Wales State Emergency Service for flood response. Monitoring data contribute to state databases and inform catchment-scale planning conducted by the Office of Environment and Heritage and regional natural resource management boards.
The impoundment alters flow regimes on Goobang Creek, affecting riparian habitats, native fish populations, and wetland connectivity in ways mirrored by impacts observed at other regulated waters like Menindee Lakes and Lake Brewster. Environmental assessments consider effects on species recorded by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, ecological communities listed under state conservation instruments, and migratory bird habitats associated with the Lachlan floodplain. Mitigation measures have included managed releases to mimic natural flows, riparian revegetation coordinated with Landcare groups, and consultation with conservation NGOs such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and local Landcare networks. Research by universities and CSIRO has informed adaptive management practices addressing salinity, sedimentation, and aquatic ecology.
The reservoir provides opportunities for recreational activities including angling, birdwatching, picnicking, and limited boating, attracting residents from Parkes, Forbes, Orange, Dubbo, Bathurst and surrounding towns. Public access is managed by local authorities with facilities maintained in collaboration with tourism organisations, regional visitor centres, and community groups. Recreational use is subject to safety standards promoted by agencies such as Lifesaving NSW and local police, and seasonal restrictions informed by the Bureau of Meteorology and state environmental advisories. The site features in regional tourism promotion alongside attractions like the Parkes Radio Telescope, National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Henry Lawson Centre.
Category:Dams in New South Wales Category:Reservoirs in Australia Category:Parkes Shire