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Kent Street Weir refurbishment

The Department of Water, in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Wildlife and City of Canning, is upgrading the Kent St Weir in 2017.

Kent St Weir concept image Feb17

The refurbishment will cost $4.4M (excl. GST) and will take approximately 4 to 6 months.

Why does it need fixing?

Kent St Weir is safe for the public to use; however, the reinforced concrete piers are in poor condition and the weir is nearing the end of its structural life.

In addition, the current configuration means that the process of installing and removing the weir boards each year is labour intensive.

There have also been an increasing number of tidal intrusion over the last 10-15 years, in which saline water has flowed over the top of the weir boards and been trapped upstream of the weir.

Aims of the refurbishment

The upgrade will incorporate a new bridge that will provide access for pedestrians, cyclists, and other members of the public.

The refurbishment will also:

  • Extend the life of the weir by approximately 50 years
  • Ensure safety for users of the weir, and government staff who operate it
  • Maintain water quality for the freshwater ecosystems upstream of the weir
  • Allow for the installation of a fish ladder
  • Upgrade to automated management of the weir boards (or gates).

About the weir

Kent St Weir was constructed in 1926 across the Canning River, connecting the localities of Wilson and Ferndale in the City of Canning. The weir is designed to maintain an upstream freshwater pool by preventing backflow from the saline water of the Swan Estuary further downstream.

The heritage-listed structure is owned by the Department of Water and operated by the Department of Parks and Wildlife.  It is 52 m long, and has undergone a number of reconstructions in its lifetime, with most recent civil works occurring in 1962.

It is highly valued by the local community and forms an integral linkage between Kent Street Weir Park and Canning River Regional Park.

FAQs

1. Will I be able to use the bridge during refurbishment?

The Department of Water are liaising with a wide variety of users of the Kent St Weir to ensure minimal disruption to daily activities during the construction phase.

During construction, a temporary bridge will be available for public use, and will be suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchairs.  Access across the river may be restricted at times in the interests of public safety.  An alternative crossing is available upstream at Greenfield St Footbridge.

Kayaking and canoeing activities

Kayaking and canoeing activities will be impacted during the construction period. It is expected that there may be limited access to the Canning River at Kent St Weir.

Alternative locations from which to access the Canning River during the construction period have been examined in conjunction with the local community.

You may wish to consider entering and exiting the river at Riverton Jetty Park, Riverton Canoe Launch or Bywater Way (Wilson) downstream of the weir, or at Mason’s Landing and Hester Park upstream of the weir (see map of alternate exit and entry points for kayaks and canoes).

Canoeists and kayakers will be able to proceed up and downstream at Kent St Weir, however will need to carry their water craft approximately 280m around the construction site to do so.

2. Will there be any environmental impacts?

The Department of Water has developed an Environmental Management Plan, which aims to minimise any negative environmental impacts resulting from the works.

The refurbishment will retain the concrete sill, but demolish the above-water elements, and replace them with new piers and a walkway over the existing substructure.  As such there will be minimal disturbance to the river bed and water turbidity.

3. Has there been consultation with traditional owners?

Yes.  Following consultation with local Aboriginal elders, the Department of Water has received approval to undertake the refurbishment works under Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, subject to a number of conditions.

4. Will everything return to normal once the works are finished?

Yes.  Normal recreational activities at Kent St Weir will resume once the works are completed.

5. What will the new bridge look like?

The replacement bridge will be wider than the current bridge (2.4m compared with the current 1.9m), and there will be two viewing platforms, one looking upstream and one looking downstream. The overall design is consistent with other architectural features of the Canning River Regional Park.

The new bridge will continue to allow for pedestrian and cyclist use. No vehicle access will be provided.

6. Where is the project up to?

The contract to undertake the works was awarded to Ertech Pty Ltd.

Works commenced on 1 May 2017.  Installation of the new bridge, fishway and automated weir gates is nearing completion.

Work is being undertaken between 7:00am – 7:00pm Monday–Saturday.

The Canning River Café, Canning River Eco Education Centre and other amenities surrounding the weir will remain open throughout the construction period.

On occasion the temporary walkway may need to be closed to ensure public safety, and you may need to use an alternative route during these times.

The nearest crossing is Greenfield Street Bridge.

Schedule and milestones

We will keep this website updated with any changes to this schedule.

MilestonesScheduled commencement datesScheduled completion dates
   
Construction site establishedEarly May 2017Early May 2017
Install sheet pilingEarly June 2017Late June 2017
Install temporary walkwayLate May 2017Early June 2017
Demolish existing piers and walkwayLate June 2017Mid July 2017
Open southern section of the cofferdam7 August 201710 August 2017
Build majority of new bridge, install fishway and new weir gatesMid August 2017Mid September 2017
Reinstall 10m portion of sheet pilingMid September 2017Mid September 2017
Build final section of new bridge, fishway and new weir gatesMid September 2017Early November 2017
Remove temporary sheet pilesMid November 2017 Late November 2017

Remove temporary walkway / Remove site fencing / Project completion

Early December 2017 Early December 2017
   

7. How do I keep informed of what’s happening?

In November 2016 the Department of Water sent over 7800 letters about the upgrade to residents in suburbs surrounding Kent Street Weir including Wilson, Cannington, Ferndale, Lynwood and Riverton, and a second letter to approximately 130 residents living in the immediate vicinity of the weir in March 2017.

We held a community information morning at the weir, and have promoted the works through community newspapers and local businesses such as the Canning River Café and the Canning River Eco Education Centre.

We have installed two large signs at either end of the bridge, and a further six signs at various canoe entry points along the Canning River including Shelley Beach Park, Riverton Jetty Park, Riverton Canoe Launch, Bywater Way, Mason’s Landing and Hester Park.

We have engaged with over 25 stakeholder groups leading up to the works, including WestCycle, Canoeing WA, environmental groups, private businesses and schools who use the site.  We continue to work closely with the City of Canning and the Department of Parks and Wildlife in delivering the upgrade.

If you would like to keep informed on a regular basis, you can subscribe for email updates by sending a request to ksw@water.wa.gov.au.

Page last updated - 07 Nov 2017

Project partners

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation

Department of Parks and Wildlife

City of Canning

Contact us

Leanne Hartley 

Project Manager

Phone: 08 6250 8031

Fax: 08 6250 8050

Email: ksw@water.wa.gov.au

Site layout

Kent St Weir Site Layout

Kayaks and canoes

Alternative entry and exit points

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The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation was established by the Government of Western Australia on 1 July 2017. It is a result of the amalgamation of the Department of Environment Regulation, Department of Water and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority. This website/publication may contain references to previous government departments and programs. Please contact the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to clarify any specific information.

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