iscover
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has been employed to carry heavy boulders as part of a dam repair in northern NSW.
The helicopter, N166DP, hauled 24 basalt boulders weighing a total of roughly 40 tonnes to shore up the 100-year-old Lavertys Gap Weir on Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby, which was damaged in the 2022 floods and by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“The program is restoring critical water and wastewater infrastructure across flood-impacted communities,” the NSW government said.
“A specialist marine contractor using tracked vehicles, floating barges and helicopters is carrying out the repairs. The works pose a complex logistical challenge requiring deep expertise.”
Using a long-line sling, the Black Hawk carried one two-tonne boulder at a time over the 400 metres between the staging site and the weir in a four-hour operation, a method which reduced the need for new tracks through the area and minimised environmental impacts around Wilsons Creek.
“You wouldn’t normally call in a Black Hawk for reconstruction efforts, but we had to think outside the box to ensure we could repair and protect a key piece of local history while ensuring Mullumbimby has a secure and reliable water supply for the future,” said NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin.
“The sight of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter placing giant boulders at the weir site was a joy to behold and shows what is possible when different levels of government work together in the best interests of a community in need of recovery support.
“The recovery of the Northern Rivers is long and complex but we are here with the community every step of the way.”
NSW Public Works project manager Richard Greenhill said the $2.7 million repair efforts are a “precision operation” to stabilise the weir, whose southern creek bank suffered serious erosion during the floods and is being reinforced with “specialised geofabric, concrete and rock placement”.
“By placing rock and engineered clay with precision, we’re building a durable barrier that will protect the weir from erosion and withstand future flood events,” he said.
“We’re addressing erosion that’s undermining the weir wall itself which if left unchecked, could compromise the structure.
“This is a collaborative effort involving Council, state agencies, Traditional Owners, and the landholder; everyone has played a role in making this possible.”
