AWMA Deliver Bespoke Water Control Infrastructure for Landmark Wetland Restoration Project under the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program
AWMA Water Control Solutions is proud to have played a key role in one of South Australia's most significant wetland restoration initiatives; the Lake Hawdon North Regulator project, delivered under the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin program. This $11.69 million project, jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments, aims to enhance biodiversity and restore critical shorebird habitat in the Limestone Coast region.
At the heart of the works is a purpose-engineered regulator installed within Drain L. The custom structure includes two LayFlat Regulator Gates, four Dual Leaf Isolation Gates, and three ULF Penstocks configured as fishway gates. Each component was tailored to meet the complex environmental and operational needs of the site.
AWMA’s custom-designed LayFlat Gates are equipped with solar-powered automation and will operate year-round to maintain a shallow inundation of the Lake Hawdon North bed during dry periods. This innovative regulation system will improve the availability of high-quality wetland habitat during late summer and autumn, creating favourable conditions for migratory species such as the curlew sandpiper, sharp-tailed sandpiper, common greenshank and red-necked stint.
To ensure unimpeded aquatic connectivity, one of the adjacent fishway gates will remain open during regulation periods, allowing fish to safely navigate upstream around the control structure, demonstrating AWMA’s capacity to integrate water management infrastructure with ecological functionality.
The regulator’s configuration is designed to operate passively during periods of high flow, enabling free discharge to reduce the risk of upstream flooding in the winter months. As seasonal conditions shift, isolation gates will divert water over the LayFlat regulators, enabling fine water level control to support habitat restoration outcomes.
Feedback from project stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive, with Leed (head contractor) praising the quality and precision of the AWMA infrastructure and the professionalism of the team during early-stage works.
In partnership with the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), this project demonstrates the ability of engineered water control infrastructure to deliver measurable environmental outcomes.
The Lake Hawdon North project is not only restoring hydrological function but also reviving a culturally significant landscape. In collaboration with First Nations of the South East, the works reflect a shared commitment to sustaining the region’s cultural and ecological values for future generations.
AWMA is proud to support the restoration of Lake Hawdon North with innovative, site-specific infrastructure that balances technical performance with environmental stewardship, demonstrating AWMA’s capacity to deliver customised water control solutions for critical sites.
