ANCOLD eNews
Newsletter of the Australian National Committee
on Large Dams Incorporated
March 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 1 |
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| Dear Member, |
As previously, along with regular reports on activities of the Executive we hope to include items of interest to members.
If you have a project or topic that others may find interesting then send a short piece to the secretariat and we'll include it in the next edition.
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News from the ANCOLD Chairman |
ANCOLD Chairman
Neil Blaikie
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Welcome to the first eNews of 2010. The new executive has been active in their first four months together. We met for our first face to face meeting for a regular Executive meeting and strategic planning workshop on 17 - 19 February. The key outcome of the workshop was to set the direction for the next three years and plan activities that will provide value to our members and associates in a changing environment. A Strategic Plan is now being developed and will be endorsed by the Executive at the May face to face meeting.
The Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams (SEED) course was recently conducted by the USBR in Melbourne and Brisbane. This was a key initiative of the past and present Executives to increase the knowledge and general industry capability in the safe management of dams. This was a unique opportunity for ANCOLD members to participate in the renowned USBR SEED training course, which is normally only available in the USA. The numbers attending greatly exceeded our initial expectations indicating the support for this type of event. The positive feedback indicates that the course was well received and of great value. Our grateful thanks go to Angus Swindon who has worked hard to bring this event together over the past twelve months. This has been on top of his ANCOLD Secretarial duties. Thanks also go to Renee from Leishmans and all those that assisted during the sessions. The executive is keen to receive any feedback and positive suggestions to build on this success for future events.
Other events are in the planning stages. Leishmans are in the final stages of organising a July tour of the dam works at Cotter and Blowering. Neil Smith and his conference organising committee are well on track to deliver another outstanding conference in November. The Call for Abstracts is out and closes on 18 April. International keynote speakers and national and international invited speakers have been approached with positive results. The details will be distributed once the arrangements have been confirmed.
The Executive has decided not to offer an Under 35 International Travel Bursary for 2010. We are developing a local program which will be endorsed at the April Executive meeting and rolled out over the next couple of months. As part of the strategic plan implementation, the Executive will be reviewing how to best support the development of young professionals.
The Executive is greatly encouraged by the support from members and associates in providing ideas and offering to assist with the organisation of activities. The success of ANCOLD is founded on this support. This gives confidence in successfully planning future events.
Neil Blaikie
ANCOLD Chairman |
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Proposed study tour Googong / Cotter and Blowering dams |
ANCOLD are proposing to run a 2 day study tour of Googong / Cotter and Blowering Dams in July 2010. Dates are yet to be confirmed and will be advised shortly.
Registration will include overnight accommodation, food & beverage, bus pick up from Canberra and return to Canberra on completion of tour.
As soon as confirmed information is available, a notice will be sent to ANCOLD members and associates. |
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2010 ANCOLD Conference |
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Critical Dates
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS NOW OPEN!!
Abstracts Submission Deadline: 18 April 2010
Notification to Authors: 10 May 2010
Full Papers Deadline: 12 July 2010 (8 weeks to write the papers)
Final Full Papers to authors for editing from the Peer Review Committee will be:
9 August 2010
Final Full Papers Deadline for printing: 6 September 2010
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USBR SEED Seminars |
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Melbourne Seminar
 | The ANCOLD Technical Seminar, Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams was held over the last two weeks in both Melbourne and Brisbane. After gauging the level of interest at the Adelaide conference where around 40 people expressed interest; two three day seminars were scheduled for Melbourne and Brisbane. As soon as registrations opened the numbers swelled and the final numbers were 80 participants in Melbourne and 55 in Brisbane. This is reflective of both the strong need and support shown for targeted training and development opportunities by our members and the recognition of the quality of the material on offer.
USBR Speakers (left to right); Jay Stateler, Gregg Scott and Bill Bouley.
 | Three experienced presenters from the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Bill Bouley, Gregg Scott and Jay Stateler travelled to Australia specifically to present this very informative seminar. Bill Bouley is a senior O&M Technical Specialist, Instrumentation and Inspections Group. with more than 30 years experience related to dams, including extensive experience in dam safety training, inspection, and evaluation. Gregg Scott is a senior Technical Specialist, Geotechnical and Structural Engineering with over 33 years of experience related to embankment and concrete dams. Jay Stateler is a senior Instrumentation Engineer, Instrumentation and Inspections Group. With over 25 years experience in instrumenting, monitoring and evaluating the performance of dams.
Not only did the delegates benefit from the technical program but also had a chance to unwind and network with one-another and the speakers on two informal sessions at each seminar with a dinner and cocktail function on the first two nights. The ANCOLD Executive will analyse the feedback received from delegates and use it to develop future training and development opportunities.
Melbourne Dinner
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Brisbane Seminar
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News from NSW - Jeff Gleeson |
The major new development in the dams industry NSW is the finalization of the pre construction works for Tillegra Dam. The dam is a 70m high Concrete Faced Rockfill structure to be built on the Williams River near Dungog. It is required to provide drought storage for the rapidly growing Newcastle region.
At this time the majority of the design and development work is complete and the project is working through the public consultation and approvals process. A number of objections have been submitted that relate to environmental impacts, dam safety and questions on the need for or timing of the project. These have been addressed by the owner Hunter Water Corporation and the response sent to the relevant State and Federal consent authorities.
Subject to these approvals it is intended that construction will commence later this year.
The regulator of prescribed dams in NSW, the Dams Safety Committee is holding its second stage seminar on the new risk based regulatory policies on the 10 June 2010. This has been an extensive project involving a review of Australian and overseas risk based systems and the development of management policies suitable to the Australian industry. The overall objective is to provide a system that provides a more comprehensive and specific understanding of each dam's safety status and allow decision making on possible remedial works to achieve a balanced and effective use of funds.
It is interesting to note that our colleagues in Victoria are currently finalizing a regulatory review. I understand that this review has given serious consideration of risk based methodologies.
The draft policy sheets were issued in 2009 for comment and the responses to this have been assessed and incorporated in to the documents. The second stage seminar is intended to formally launch the system and provide an overview of the requirements. The seminar will be opened by the Minister for Water, Mr Phil Costa who has strongly supported this approach as it provides a means of assessing the priorities for the use of government funds in an environment of numerous competing demands.
In general there has been significant activity in the field of safety upgrades in the State with over 20 major dams in the design or construction stages of remedial works. The majority of the works are intended for flood deficiencies but there are an increasing number of projects involving defensive measures for piping problems.
After a very small lull in activity in coal mining after the Global Financial Crisis appears to have finished and the activity in dams for coal mining projects has returned to the high levels of 2008. The dams are required for tailings, water supply and pollution control and form a significant portion of the structures required for a modern coal mine. |
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News from Queensland - Michel Raymond |
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Another good wet season
Queensland is enjoying its third successive good wet season with great benefit to storage levels in most major dams. Sunwater's portfolio of major dams have received impressive inflow volumes with the majority of dams across western, central and northern regions now full or near full. The south east region still has some dams at low levels. Paradise Dam on the Burnett River filled on 26 February for the first time since construction was completed in late 2005 and may result in gated outlet releases from the dam.
Construction Activity
Drilling at Wyaralong Dam
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Construction is now well underway on the new Wyaralong Dam in the Logan River catchment near Beaudesert. The 103,000 ML capacity dam is expected to provide up to 26,000 ML yield when operated in combination with Cedar Grove Weir and Bromelton Off-stream storage. The construction activity is expected to support employment of up to 420 people, and is currently in the early phase of foundation preparation works including 280,000 m3 of excavation.
Wyaralong Dam Construction Site
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Other aspects of the project included a new access road to the dam (now complete), approximately 11 km of road realignment, a range of new recreational facilities, and environmental rehabilitation works. For further information visit: www.wyaralongdam.com.au/
Hinze Dam spillway works progress
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Hinze Dam overflow on 7 February 2010
 | The Hinze Dam Stage 3 project is entering its third and final year of construction. Wet weather inflows to the dam and consequent overflows have continued to challenge the spillway construction activities. On 6 February up to 280mm rainfall occurred across the catchment which overflowed the spillway and bulkhead on the next day. Spillway progress has continued and the works now provide a great impression of the scale of the project and final configuration. Main embankment and saddle dam works are now raising the dam crest level. To follow progress of this project visit: www.hinzedamstage3.com
Planned new projects
The EIS for the proposed Connors River Dam, inland of Mackay has been released for public comment. The proposed dam is planned to have approximately 373,000 ML storage capacity and provide up to 49,500 ML/year high priority yield. The EIS can be accessed via: http://www.sunwater.com.au/current_projects_Connors_EIS.htm
New Guidelines
The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management are preparing new guidelines and a manual for dams that contain hazardous waste or hazardous waters and are regulated under the Queensland Environmental Protection Act. The guidelines are due for release in early 2010. |
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News from Tasmania - Bram Knoop |
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The possible economic effects of 'climate change' continue to be the subject of interest to the 'water industry', be it hydro power generation, irrigation or commercial and domestic water supply. Although Tasmania generally receives on average more rainfall per square kilometre than most of mainland Australia it does also experience periods of extensive drought. Recent rainfall records indicate a general reduction in annual precipitation during the past twenty to thirty years, i.e., similar to reductions in rainfall experienced in south-east Victoria and New South Wales as well as south west Western Australia.
In the case of Hydro Tasmania any long term reduction in rainfall and run-off has serious implications for its energy generating operations. The organisation has studied this problem for a number of years. Further climate modelling studies are also being carried out for Hydro Tasmania by the CSIRO Division of Marine and Atmospheric Research and by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre. These studies form part of a range of investigations that are aimed to ensure that the generating capacity of the power system can be enhanced to meet future power demand.
Work on the Catagunya Dam Restoration Project is progressing. Drilling of the new cable holes on the spillway crest section is currently in progress. Stressing operations are expected to be completed by the end of May. The temporary spillway access platforms will then be progressively removed. Next year the spillway traveller will be re-installed to carry out the required 12 month lift-off tests and to completed final clean-up.
In the mean time site investigations are being carried out at the Rowallan Dam on the Mersey River as part of a major dam safety review. This 43m high by 579m long rockfill embankment dam was completed in 1967. It forms the major storage (131000ML) for the Mersey-Forth Power Development. The spillway for this dam is located on a rocky ridge near the centre of the embankment. Soon after the reservoir was filled a sink hole appeared at the downstream side of the crest adjacent to the right side spillway training wall. The embankment was repaired at that time by installing a number of vertical sheet piles and replacing any lost fill, including appropriate filter materials. |
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News from Victoria |
William Hovell Dam Safety Upgrade Project - Shane McGrath
William Hovell Dam
 | William Hovell Dam is located on the King River 18km south of Cheshunt in North-Eastern Victoria and supplies water for irrigated crops, vineyards and grazing properties along the King River. The dam was completed in 1973.
The William Hovell Dam has a capacity of 13,700ML and its catchment area covers 332 square kilometres of mountainous State Forest.
The dam comprises two embankments, an earth and rockfill embankment (main embankment) across the river channel, and a zoned earthfill embankment (secondary embankment) on the right abutment. The main embankment has a maximum height of 35m and crest length of 240m. The spillway is located on a ridge on the eastern side of the main embankment. It comprises a concrete chute, with an ungated ogee crest and a distinctive flip bucket at its downstream end.
Goulburn-Murray Water is part way through a $7.7 Million dam safety upgrade of William Hovell Dam.
The upgrade works, designed by GHD, will provide increased security during an extreme flood event and will protect the upper section of the embankment against piping.
The upgrade works consist of:
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Reconstruction of the upper portion of the main embankment downstream sand and gravel filters to provide piping protection
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Increasing spillway capacity by the raising of both the main and secondary embankments by 2metres. The raising of the main embankment includes the installation of a concrete parapet wall.
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Strengthening and raising of the concrete spillway training walls around the spillway crest.
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Installation of 40No. passive bars (12m long) in the spillway ogee to resist the higher uplift pressures generate by the revised design flood event.
The earthworks on site are being directly managed by Goulburn-Murray Water. The spillway strengthening works are being carried out under contract by Geotech Pty Ltd.
William Hovell Dam
 | The works commenced in November 2009 and are on program to be completed by May 2010. The timing of construction during the summer period was required for key components of the works to be completed when the storage levels are low. This will enable works to be undertaken to strengthen upstream training walls without the need for a cofferdam.
Victorian Water Industry Dams Working Group (WIDWG) - Bruce Duncan
The Victorian Water Industry Dams Working Group (WIDWG) was formed in 1997 consisting of representatives from the Victorian water authorities and the Regulator, the Department of Sustainability & Environment, as a forum for improving dam safety management in Victoria. Membership was expanded in recent years to include other major public and private dam owners. WIDWG has proven to be an excellent avenue to discuss issues of mutual interest such as specific technical problems, information sharing, industry specific presentations and networking. It has also been a useful forum for the Regulator to test, communicate and introduce change as well as for smaller dam owners to develop an understanding of industry expectations. A key to the success of the Group is that the size of Victoria facilitates attendance at meetings with travel times usually less than 2 to 3 hours.
Whilst the WIDWG has been a long standing forum for Victorian Water Authorities, there is limited awareness of its existence in other States. Consequently it was thought relevant to mention the Group in ANCOLD's 'News From the States' as it can provide a forum to share information or for feedback with similar forums in other states as well as on ANCOLD Guidelines, risk profiles, experiences on what does and does not work as well as experiences relating to drought/fire/etc.
Through the Group, the Regulator has successfully encouraged risk based approaches to be adopted by Victorian dam owners for prioritising and justifying dam upgrades over the last 15 years. Other achievements include the funding of a State-wide seismic monitoring network over the last 12 years, development of Dams Decommissioning and Training guidelines, conducting a workshop on the Dam Safety Implications of Drought, input to National training modules and ANCOLD guideline reviews as well as facilitating work experience placements between members.
Contact to the Victorian WIDWG can be made through Paul O'Brien at VicWater on 03 9639 8868 or Bruce Duncan at Coliban Water on 03 5434 1220. |
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News from WA - Bob Wark |
Stirling Dam Upgrade Complete
Water Minister Graham Jacobs and Water Corporation CEO Sue Murphy
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Water Minister Graham Jacobs was in Harvey to mark the completion of a two-year project to bring one of the State's largest dams into line with today's engineering standards.
Dr Jacobs said that upgrading the 60-year-old, 57 billion litre dam formed part of the Government's ongoing State-wide dam safety and maintenance program.
"Western Australia's dams and water infrastructure are some of our most important assets," he said. "This project forms part of a comprehensive suite of works that ensure our dams remain operational, protect downstream environments and communities, and create employment."
The dam was named after the State's first Governor, James Stirling. Built for irrigation, at the time it was the State's highest earth fill dam. An upgrade of the dam in 2001 allowed it to be used to supply drinking water for communities from Harvey to Perth and the goldfields.
"The Stirling Dam Improvement Project has brought a valuable, but aging asset into line with current engineering standards, so that it can continue to service our communities and irrigators for many years to come.
The project involved modifying the dam's 52-metre-high earth embankment and widening its spillway, making it capable of withstanding the largest rainfall event that hydrologists predict can occur in the area. The work also involved partial reconstruction of the embankment to improve resistance to internal erosion.
The Minister praised the Water Corporation and irrigation cooperative Harvey Water for working together throughout the project to maintain normal services to drinking water customers and the region's multi-million dollar irrigation industry.
Project Team members Elio Di Marco, Alex Gower,
Eddie Anastazjew and Bob Wark
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He said the Water Corporation and Department of Environment and Conservation would establish suitable community facilities downstream of the reservoir, and expected the site to be reopened to the public during the coming weeks.
The total cost of the Stirling Dam Improvement Project was $47 million.
"During the first construction season there were extremely high inflows into the reservoir in late winter, so dealing with the issues created by the weather was a challenge" said Project Manager David Pickering, "but seeing the whole project evolve from the early planning through detailed design and finally construction was very satisfying".
"A project of this nature is a team effort" said David, "all of the project team who have been involved in the project are to be commended for their efforts."
The next phase of the project involves upgrading the outlet works, including the intake tower and the outlet pipe and downstream control valves.
Design Manager Alex Gower (not pictured) says that undertaking embankment earthworks while maintaining the dam as an operating source of water was a challenge. Significant engineering analysis was undertaken by GHD (led by Bob Wark, centre) to demonstrate that the dam could safely store over 30 m depth of water while a quarter of the embankment temporarily removed. Also pictured are Adam Routhier and Eddie Anastazjew who also worked on the project construction.
Drakesbrook Dam
Construction of downstream toe weighting berm
February 2010
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Construction work at Drakesbrook Dam is continuing at a cracking pace with the Water Corporation's Engineering and Construction Services group rapidly transforming the dam. The 2009/2010 summer sees the addition of a foundation blanket filter and full height embankment filters. Work has progressed with filters and weighting earthfill now being placed on the downstream side of the embankment.
In addition to the embankment works, progress is being made on the construction of a new spillway on the left abutment. The blasting works in the spillway area are now complete and the crew on site are now starting to lift rebar into position. In addition, works on the auxiliary spillway are in progress with new training/abutment walls being poured.
To round out the upgrade project, within the next month we should see the removal of the temporary bypass around the energy dissipation structure as well as the commissioning of the new micro hydro unit on the site.
Logue Brook Outlet Works Upgrade
Tim Delane and Sofia Vargas inspect the new DN 900 lattice blade valve
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The upgrade of the outlet works at Logue Brook Dam for the Water Corporation and Harvey Water is the final step in the implementation of the Harvey Piped Irrigation Project. This involves the construction of 6 km of DN 800 PE pipeline from the dam to the irrigation area and a connection into the outlet works at the dam. However the existing outlet works were over 50 years old and in need of upgrading to improve equipment standards and operability. The upgrade includes the fitting of a new DN 900 PN16 lattice blade butterfly as the main shut off valve on the downstream side of the dam with two DB 800 butterfly valves as guard valves to the two offtakes. The works also include a dedicated environmental release valve, combined with flow metering, an instrumentation upgrade and SCADA control of the works.
Divers and work boats at the Logue Brook Inlet Tower
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Isolation of the works was achieved by lowering the bulkhead gate in the inlet tower. However an inspection of the tower revealed that all the equipment both above water and below water had deteriorated to such an extent that it had to be completely replaced. This required a 2 week diving operation in 30 m deep water. Refitting work in the tower was complicated by the lack of an access bridge and permanent access to the hoist house. A fleet of boats and barges was used to facilitate the work and a temporary ladder was installed on the tower for the duration of the works.
Wellington Dam Remedial Works Project
In January, the Wellington Dam Alliance consisting of Leighton, Hydro Tasmania, AECOM, Structural Systems and owner Water Corporation has commenced site works on the $40 million post tensioning project. The extreme hazard structure was originally constructed in 1933 as a 19m high concrete gravity dam then raised in the 1950's to its current 34m height. Safety reviews and investigation projects carried out since 2000 have shown that Wellington Dam falls well short of meeting current design standards and needs to be strengthened to be stable under design flood loading. Subsequent work by the Water Corporation and GHD identified post-tensioning as the preferred solution.
Site work by the Alliance is progressing on constructing access roads to the left and right abutments to allow a permanent 5.5m wide reinforced concrete bridge to be constructed across the entire 360m long dam crest. The bridge will span the 220m long spillway section supported by 2.1m high bridge piers that will house the post-tensioning cables. The bridge piers will be housed in 1.15m deep rebates excavated from the existing ogee spillway crest. The piers are spaced at 7.62m centres allowing exactly two 91 strand anchors per 15.24m wide spillway block. Mesh covers in the bridge deck will allow the anchor heads to be accessed by operations staff to monitor the load in the tendons.
Early site works at Wellington Dam - March 2010.
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Of particular interest is the design of the bridge deck spanning the spillway section of the dam. The design flood (PMF) is estimated to have a peak surcharge of 6m above the current full supply level. The proposed bridge deck height of 2.1m above the spillway crest will cause the bridge deck to be inundated for flood events above the 1:1000 AEP event. To achieve optimal flow conditions, the bridge deck will need to wash downstream to limit the flood surcharge to 6m. To achieve this end, the bridge deck and bearings have been carefully designed by the Alliance to ensure that they slide off the pier head stock at the required flood event. Given that the design relies on the conditional failure of all bridge deck units to pass the design flood, the remedial works is therefore deemed to be a risk-based solution. Construction of the remedial works will take approximately 2 years.
Modelling the modified Wellington Dam spillway.
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Montage image of the proposed bridge deck over Wellington Dam.
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2010 ICOLD Annual General Meeting - Vietnam |
The 78th Annual Meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) will be held in Hanoi, 23 - 26 May, 2010. It includes an International Symposium with about 200 presentations from all continents, Technical Committees Meetings, ICOLD Executive Meeting, Round Tables, Technical Tours and a large Technical Exhibition.
The Vietnam National Committee on Large Dams & Water Resources Development, the host organization, has extended a warm invitation to attend the meeting, the most important event of ICOLD in the year.
The organising committee states that, you will not only participate in special ICOLD activities but also enjoy the hospitality of Vietnamese people and the country's beautiful landscape.
For further details of the invitation click here or you may visit their website http://www.vncold.vn/ICOLD2010 , where you can find frequently-updated information on the Meeting. The second bulletin is also available for your reference. |
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ANCOLD Guidelines |
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Visit the ANCOLD website for Guidelines, papers and other publication purchases;
http://www.ancold.org.au/publications.asp
We have the following ANCOLD Guidelines for sale through the website;
Guidelines on Risk Assessment (2003)
Guidelines on the Environmental Management of Dams (2001)
Guidelines on Assessment of the Consequences of Dam Failure (2000)
Guidelines on Selection of Acceptable Flood Capacity for Dams (2000)
Guidelines on Tailings Dam Design, Construction and Operation (1999)
Guidelines on Design of Dams for Earthquake (1998)
Guidelines on Strengthening and Raising Concrete Gravity Dams (1992)
Guidelines on Concrete Faced Rockfill Dams (1991)
Guidelines on Dam Safety Management (2003)
Queries regarding the purchasing of publications should be directed to the secretariat
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