The Making of "The Nepean" - Day 13
First Shown: 14 May, 2019 on YouTube
Wallacia Weir was our destination today and my research indicated that the weir was not easy to reach. Regardless, we set off knowing we had the whole day to accomplish this video segment for my documentary "The Nepean". My map indicated that we had to leave the car on Silverdale Road, at a locked gate, 920m west of Mulgoa Road, Wallacia.
By the look of it the dirt road from the gate had not had a vehicle on it for years and the house it went past was deserted. We walked on and found a large open shed full of old machinery and logs sawn and stacked for firewood. But nothing in the shed suggested that anyone has worked there for years.
We recorded a little of the shed then continued along the road until we came across a small brick building that had a sign on it that read, "Sydney WATER. CHLORINE ANALYSING STATION. BLD 01". We had come across the water pipeline from Warragamba Dam to Prospect Reservoir and this building, it seems, is used to test the water passing through the pipe.
It is here that the pipeline, encased in a concrete box, steeply decends to pass under the Nepean River and up the other side. While climbing over the pipe I missjudged just how steep and slippery the surface was and slide helplessly towards a swim in the Nepean. Saved? an overhanging tree branch about 10-12m down my slippery slide successfully ends my impending swim with only minor scratched and the loss of my sunglasses. This mishap is recorded, of course.
On reaching the river, without getting wet, I traversed the 200m to the weir, alone. Jeff decided he wasn't up to the challenge of climbing over and crawling under the thick undergrowth that grew along the river bank. So, he did not get to see the Wallacia Weir first hand and had to wait for a viewing at home.
My advice to anyone going to the Wallacia Weir would be to turn right after the deserted house and follow the trail to the weir. Not only is it short and easy but safer as well. It never ceases to amaze me what is to be discovered when one gets off the beaten track.
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