Patawalonga South Gates Upgrade project

Construction complete

McMahon Services Australia, on behalf of the Department for Environment and Water and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, completed an upgrade of the Patawalonga South Gates in December 2025.

This project has modernised the gate infrastructure to today’s standards to ensure ongoing effective, safe and reliable operation.

The new stainless-steel gates have a lifespan of up to 50 years without the need for refurbishment, ensuring flood mitigation for the local area can continue into the future. The upgrade secures a quality marine environment for recreational use to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors to South Australia.

Located at the Glenelg Marina, the South Gates structure is made up of 8 automated motor-driven lift gates, a walkway connecting Glenelg and Glenelg North, and a boat lock. The South Gates automatically rise and lower to regulate water levels in the Patawalonga Lake System, circulating fresh seawater in the system to keep it healthy.

During the construction phase, all 8 gates, the lifting components and the electrical control system were replaced.