Vasse and Wonnerup Floodgates
A remnant gateway element from the c1929 Vasse Floodgates is mounted in the grounds of the Busselton Museum (former butter factory), Peel Terrace, Busselton. An interpretation panel is provided and the text on the interpretation panel is as follows:
The original floodgates in the Wonnerup Estuary were built c1907. One set was built at the Wonnerup Inlet beside Forrest Beach Road and the other set was built at the Vasse estuary beside Layman Road. The gates prevent the sea from flooding low lying farmlands that border the estuary. They are operated by the action of the inward and outward tides but can also be manually controlled which protects the swan breeding grounds and ecosystem of the wetlands. The original Vasse estuary gates were on the Ballerat Bridge itself but a separate structure was built c1929 just south of the bridge. Californian redwood was used to build both the old and new gates. Old Freddy Titchburn used to work for Alf Reynolds and he used to operate the floodgates at Wonnerup. He used to go down in the bleak winter days to pull the timbers out to allow the water through. A cyclone in the thirties blew the floodgates away and parts of them were salvaged from further up the estuary.
In 1984 hundreds of mullet and bream died because of a unique combination of conditions. Peter Lambert of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department of Busselton quoted a lack of oxygen suffocated the fish when a heat wave coincided with a drop in the estuary’s water level. The incident was unfortunate but unavoidable as the Public Works Department could not open the floodgates to allow in oxygenated salt water to help the fish as it would have affected farming land. In 2002 tenders were received for new floodgates to be built at both the Wonnerup Inlet and the Vasse estuary.
The new floodgates are constructed from high durability concrete to provide a life expectancy of approximately 70 years plus. The stainless steel tide flaps from the previous timber have been modified and reused on the new structure. The new structure has stainless steel stop boards replacing the old timber stop logs. There is room for maintenance vehicle access for quick removal and replacement of stainless steel stop boards. A remote water quality data collection box has been installed to assist in monitoring fish movements and release during summer periods. Electrically actuated fish gates have been installed to allow openings for fish movement and water quality changes. Previously this was carried out manually using ropes to prop open one tide flap. Approximately 70% of the old timber (birdsmouth) cut off walls are still buried beneath the new structure. Interpretative plaques are displayed nearby. The cost of the floodgates was $2.2 million each.
Donated by the Water Corporation and Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd. June 2005.
The reconstructed Vasse and Wonnerup floodgates are both accessible by public road and are located approximately 10 kilometres North East of Busselton along Layman Road. The Vasse floodgates are adjacent to Layman Road, while the Wonnerup floodgates are accessed by proceeding further up Layman Road and turning North East into Forrest Beach Road.
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