CANBERRA, ACT, May 28 -- Murray-Darling Basin Authority issued the following news release:
This year, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and SA Water are celebrating a century of operation for Lock 3 at Overland Corner - a historic milestone in the network of locks and weirs along the River Murray.
Before weirs were built, the natural fluctuations in the flow of the Murray River meant water supply was unpredictable, making it hard for growing towns and the traders who used the river to transport their cargo.
In 1914, the Commonwealth, Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian governments agreed that building locks and weirs was the best way to provide reliable water flow to support transport passage.
Lock 3 was the second to begin operating on the South Australian section of the river, with additional infrastructure added progressively over the years.
On behalf of the MDBA, SA Water manages Locks 1 to 6 in South Australia as well as Lock 7 at Rufus River and Lock 8 at Wangumma in New South Wales, and Lock 9 at Kulnine in Victoria.
SA Water Senior Manager of River Murray Operations, Garry Fyfe, highlighted the significance of the centenary:
"This is an important milestone that celebrates the long-standing role Lock 3 has played in supporting boating activity on the River Murray for the past 100 years."
Construction of Lock 3 was completed in late 1924, with Charles Evans Adams appointed as its first lockmaster that December. Originally designed to support fleets of paddle steamers and cargo boats in the early 20th century, Lock 3 now primarily accommodates houseboats, ski boats, dinghies, and kayaks.
The operation of locks today remains largely unchanged: a vessel is secured inside a lock chamber, and water levels are raised or lowered to match the height of the water on the other side of the hydraulically operated large steel gates.
MDBA General Manager River Management, Angus Paton explained Lock 3's functionality has evolved:
"Over time, Lock 3 has had other functions developed other than vessel navigation including allowing fish passage via the fishway and the stoplogs being adjusted to raise and lower upstream and downstream weirs pools which is then used to push water into wetlands for environmental benefits."
Although exact figures over the century are unknown, recent records show that Lock 3 has facilitated over 15,000 lockages since 2000. Local lockmasters take great pride in looking after Lock 3 - not just for the local community, but for all who visit the Riverland. They're excited to keep this tradition going for the next hundred years and beyond.
Looking ahead, the lock chamber at Overland Corner is due for a major refurbishment in the coming months. SA Water will be draining the chamber, which holds nearly eight million litres of water, for up to 16 weeks to carry out essential repairs to its interior and hydraulic gates. During this period, the lock will be temporarily closed to river traffic and river users.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
