24 June 2010
PATTERSON LAKES TIDAL GATES REPLACEMENT BEGINS
Work has started on replacing the 30-year-old tidal gates that are critical to protecting the Patterson Lakes community from flooding.
The tidal gates on four channels from the Patterson River are reaching the end of their safe service life and the $18 million replacement program will provide the best possible level of flood protection, accommodating a one-in-one hundred year flood event.
The tidal gates at Whalers Cove will be the first to be replaced, followed by those at Runaway Bay and the town centre throughout 2011.
Melbourne Water's Manager of Asset Planning, Paul Pretto, said there would be some noise impacts on the local community and disruption to marine, road and pedestrian traffic.
"Construction will initially involve installing sheet-piling across the western Whalers Cove entrance to create a dry works area, which will affect boating," Dr Pretto said.
"Traffic lights will be installed at the eastern entrance to the river to manage boat traffic while the western entrance is closed. Only one entrance, the eastern or western, will be closed at a time throughout the project.
"The driving of the sheet-piling and drainage of the water will be noisy, but all work will be done between 7am and 5pm to lessen the impact. We'll do our best to conduct noisier works from 8am onwards.
"The existing tidal gates will be removed using a large crane. We'll then undertake works to prepare the site for the new gates to be installed.
"We appreciate the community's patience as we undertake these essential works," he added.
Extra vehicles and equipment will be coming and going from the site during the preparation works. The shared user path will be diverted during certain periods of construction, and an alternative route will be provided with local signage and directions. The most easterly end of the car park will be closed to the public for the duration of the works.
The community has the opportunity to find out more about the project at an information session from 11am-1pm on 3 July at Patterson Lakes Shopping Centre.
About 40% of the cost of the tidal gates will be funded by the special rate paid by the 900 Tidal Waterways property owners. Melbourne Water will provide the remaining funds, which will include revenue collected from drainage rates paid by all greater Melbourne households.
The Essential Services Commission recently approved a 2010-11 rate increase of 18% (plus inflation) for Tidal Waterways property owners and 11% (plus inflation) for Quiet Lakes property owners.
Media Contact: Nicolas McGay +613 9235 2278 +61 (0)438 981 836