Lake Kepwari

Project Background

Kepwari is a word in the Indigenous Wilman language meaning 'playing in water', and all manner of water sports will be enjoyed at Lake Kepwari for generations to come.  Formerly an open-cut coal mine, The Department of Biodiversity wished to transform the site into a water-based tourism hub, featuring areas for boating, waterskiing, swimming, camping and picnicking.

Work commenced in January 2020 and included the development of recreational infrastructure, such as the provision of sealed access to the boat ramp, the construction of a dual lane boat ramp with jetty, 85 parking bays suitable for boat trailers and 65 for cars.

Further works were carried out to provide access to the lake foreshore, including boat and swimming beach areas and camping areas.

Problem

In order to construct the boat ramp and viewing decks the banks along the lake needed to be stabilised. The banks along the river had eroded due to the aggressive hydraulic environment and flow from the surrounding waters.  As a former open cut coal mine, which has since been filled with water and connected to the nearby Collie River there was some rehabilitation works required in the area to enable construction works to commence.   Recent rehabilitation activities to facilitate permanent flow through included; widening the Collie River inlet and outlets to allow full flow through the lake; rehabilitating the beach; and backfilling the diversion channel.

Solution

Erosion in the area was mitigated with a combination of soft and hard engineered techniques. Straightening of the drainage channel was achieved using Linkweld® Weldmesh Gabion walls and Link® Mattresses. These structures were used to diffuse the resulting impact of increased water velocities through the channel. The Linkweld® Weldmesh Gabions were terraced back into the bank on either side of the brook to provide stability to the banks and to prevent any erosion. Link® PVC coated Rock Mattresses were placed at the base of the brook to protect it from potential scouring during high flow events.

Results

Gabions have traditionally been constructed using flexible woven mesh for retaining structures and scour protection systems due to their porous free draining nature combined with durable rock infill. The woven mesh has proven successful in hydraulic applications allowing for potential differential settlements of structures.

Global Synthetics now offer Linkweld® gabions incorporating a more rigid welded mesh facing panel construction. The benefits of Linkweld® are realised in land based retaining structures, feature wall cladding, sound walls, seating and other landscape features where the beauty of rock and the clean straight, architectural lines of the welded mesh panels are desirable.

Benefits and Features of LINKWELD gabions: 

• Ease of Construction

• Local Stocking To Assist In Timely Deliveries

• Quality Product

• Range of Wire Coating To Suit Varying Environmental Conditions

• Wide Range of Sizes

Choosing the right product for your application will depend on a range of factors. For assistance in choosing the right product for your individual project, contact the specialist engineering team at Global Synthetics.