National Museum of Australia

Goolwa barrage, Richard (Goolwa)

Goolwa barrage structure

Goolwa Barrage structure
The Goolwa Barrage is constructed using stop logs, removed to allow water to flow into the estuary. This barrage contains a lock allowing water craft to pass through.

Dredge at Murray mouth, Richard (Goolwa)

New dredge launched at Mundoo

Dredges at work 24/7 in the Murray Mouth
Initially one dredge in the Goolwa Channel was used but the mouth continued to threaten closure so a second dredge was located in the Coorong Channel. This has successfully enabled the mouth to be kept open.

Dredging, Richard (Goolwa)

Photo of Murray Mouth Sand Pumping Project sign

Murray Mouth Sand Pumping Project sign at the Murray Mouth

Since October 2002, two sand dredges have been working 24 hours a day, seven days a week in both the Goolwa and the Coorong Channels. The sand is pumped as a slurry and piped over the sand dunes in the mouth onto the ocean beach where the currents move the sand around again. Recently the milestone of three million cubic metres of sand was reached, and they are just continuing to keep the mouth of this once major river open. The cause of this problem is the lack of environmental flows in the river because far too much water is being taken by irrigators and dairy farmers in the Murray Darling Basin. Tidal movement through the mouth must occur if wading birds, many of which are migratory and from the Northern Hemisphere (and protected supposedly by the Ramsar Convention), are to be able to feed on the exposed mudflats in the estuary, particularly between the Goolwa and the Tauwitcherie Barrages.

90 mile beach, Grant (Goolwa)

Picture of surf on beach

The great southern ocean is suffering environmentally, with marine biodiversity suffering. Are land based activities having impacts on the seas?

A beautiful country - impacts compounding, Grant (Goolwa)

Picture of Coorong vegetation

The southern lagoon of the Coorong
Once again there is not enough water, and the Coorong is at the mercy of human intervention. When will we get it balanced back to its natural state as a living body?

A raging torrent it once was, Grant (Goolwa)

Picture of salt creek

Salt Creek is freshwater. This water is so important to the 'Kurangk' (Coorong) - we need this for the birds and fish. Salt Creek flows are scarce and the re-diversion of South East channels has had a major impact from the washpool catchments. As always the problem seems man made.

Water

Water

Goolwa barrage, Richard (Goolwa)

Dredge at Murray mouth, Richard (Goolwa)

Dredging, Richard (Goolwa)

90 mile beach, Grant (Goolwa)

A beautiful country - impacts compounding, Grant (Goolwa)

A raging torrent it once was, Grant (Goolwa)

Water

Water

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Goolwa barrage, Richard (Goolwa)

Dredge at Murray mouth, Richard (Goolwa)

Dredging, Richard (Goolwa)

90 mile beach, Grant (Goolwa)

A beautiful country - impacts compounding, Grant (Goolwa)

A raging torrent it once was, Grant (Goolwa)