How do you build a dam across a watercourse in victoia australia?

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if it is just for ornamently reasons do you still need permission? if you build without permission how much is the fine ? the river in question is a seasonal creek (its got water in it only when it rains it acts like a drain and is located high up in hilly country )

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  • Carefully. No, seriously; if it is just for ornamental purposes it would probably be OK. But, are you planning to hold back enough water to keep it “ornamental” through dry season?Some down stream users might object if they count on it to fill up their agricultural ponds. You should ask your district ranger or agronomist. Besides a fine you might be sued for damages if someone can show that, in some way, you have damaged animals or crops. In dry country people get very protective of their water rights. You probably never heard of it but in the U.S. Southwest, years ago, we had the “Cedar River War” and people were killed and property blown up before the courts and militia restored order.

  • I think that you will find that even if the water runs through your land, that you don’t actually own that water. Damming the creek may have other effects further down stream and should your dam fail the sudden flush of water can cause massive erosion as well. Thats why most farm dams are separate from the creeks or rivers and use a pump to move water from the water source to the dam. Its is not advisable to build a dam across a water course in such a way as to impede its flow for both environmental and legal reasons

  • do u live in australia

  • You would need to talk to the local government to find out what you can do depending of if it is on your property or not.

  • I suggest you inquire at your local office of the Dept. of Sustainability and Environment, or call them. Good luck. The second link comes from their dam info, but you really should talk to them as answers about legislative requirements and natural resources is best done on a case-by-case basis.

    Source(s):
    http://www.dse.vic.gov.au
    http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/wcmn202.ns…

  • It sounds to me like your question is not one of how but one of building codes and laws. If you go against a law it may not only be a fine but you may have to remove it and an agency will do it with your money, you will not be allowed to. If the law is based on environmental concerns, prove the dam and resulting pond or lake will be great for the environment. Be ready also with permission from land owners and/ or petition from the local public (who may want to help). Someone will have to research the project who is in the know about such things. Wetlands are jealously guarded and protected and so are their waterways. Once turned into a protected area it will take an act from God to return it in a lot of places, so it will be forever taken away and not buildable, for that reason and the reason that it is no longer a good spot, and anyone who stands to loose money will take issue over that. G’luck.

  • Dam’s are simple to build. You can use depris (trees, rocks, dirt) to form a wall and slow the flow of water down. The potential issue you may run into is what does that stream connect to? If it connects to a stream and these connections continue to one that’s goverment regulated, by law they ar all regulated. The goverment is very sensative now-a-days when it comes to altering the potential nutrient levels in the water. Building a dam can do so. That being said, it would be challenging for them to find out a dam is built unless there is a significant change in nutrients or it causing additional flooding in uncommon places. Remember that water wants to take the least resistent path. With the dam being at high elevation I’m sure there will be another route in which it will seek depending on the volume of water at that current time.

    Good Luck.

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