Bunyip River fish passage, geomorphic assessment and vegetation management

The physical form of the Bunyip River has been significantly modified in the lower reaches and has since been subject to major incision. A series of grade control structures were constructed approximately 20 years ago at Buneep to halt this incision from threatening upstream waters. Melbourne Water engaged Alluvium to undertake an assessment of these instream grade control structures for stability and fish passage while also developing a riparian vegetation management plan.

Of the six structures, three were failing at the toe and five were not suitable for fish passage. Designs were produced for structural modification works and now, since construction the fish in the system have the opportunity to move between the estuary and the intact headwater reaches.