The $568.9 million Rockwood Weir has finished construction, and is set to l yield 86,000ML each year to boost economic growth, agricultural production and industry in Central Queensland. It is the largest weir completed in Australia since World War Two. It is also the largest piece of new water infrastructure delivered in Australia since the Queensland Government completed Wyaralong Dam […]
The New South Wales Government has announced investments totaling $6.2 million to boost drought resilience and water security in the face of the drying conditions across the Central Tablelands. The investments include: $5.5 million to connect Cowra and the Central Tablelands Water systems, so the region can share water when supplies hit critically low levels $150,000 to help Central Tablelands […]
The Queensland Coordinator-General has declared the $14.2 billion Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project a coordinated project, meaning that assessment of social, economic and environmental matters can begin. The project, being developed by Queensland Hydro, involves building a new upper reservoir, as well as a new dam wall that will replace the existing Borumba Dam wall and increase Lake Borumba’s […]
Seqwater has released its 2023 Water Security Program, which outlines how it plans to deliver reliable, quality water to the region’s rising population. As outlined in the South East Queensland Regional Plan, population is set to grow to more than six million over the next 30 years. The Water Security Program maps out how Seqwater plans to continue to provide […]
The New South Wales Government has announced that it will not be going ahead with the Wyangala Dam Wall Raising Project, due to the severe predicted environmental impacts and the billions of dollars in projected construction costs. New South Wales Minister for Water, Rose Jackson, said both the project’s Final Business Case and an extensive independent review by Infrastructure NSW […]
Over the long term, dams can provide the cheapest source of bulk water for the urban environment, and dam water is easier to treat than other sources, such as seawater desalination. However, their construction can involve significant costs, and environmental impacts. The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) has prepared a detailed study into dams. Surface water dams have long […]
Hunter Water has completed a five year risk assessment of the Chichester Dam in New South Wales as part of its routine assessment program. The Chichester Dam was built in the 1920s to serve the community and has continued to do so for hundreds of years. Over time the New South Wales water sector has continued to understand the conditions […]
The Queensland Government has announced that six contracts, worth a combined $1.7 million, have been awarded for a range of planning activities for its Burdekin Falls dam improvement project. The contracts will support 80 jobs, with 50 of these in the Townsville region. The jobs involve geotechnical investigations, quarry material sourcing, cultural heritage and native title work, and the establishment […]
TasWater, in partnership with the Glenorchy City Council, has announced that the contract for the $6.2 million Tolosa Park Dam redevelopment project has been awarded. Tasmanian company Gradco were the recipients of the contract, which will see increased construction activity in Glenorchy at Tolosa Park as work gets underway to decommission the old dam and transform the site into parkland. […]
The Western Australian Government is set to provide the shires of Narembeen and Narrogin with $160,600 in combined funding as part of the Community Water Supplies Partnership Program. The Shire of Narembeen will receive $85,000 for four water tanks, which will store harvested rainwater from the roof of the Narembeen District High School. The collected water will reduce the school’s […]
The Queensland Government has allocated $116.4 million to support pre‑construction activities for the Paradise Dam Improvement Project, which is set to begin major construction in late 2023. In one of the most complex engineering projects in the region’s history, these major dam improvement works will deliver long-term water security for the Bundaberg region by restoring the dam’s capacity and will […]
The New South Wales Government has completed obligations under the Murray Darling Basin Plan by submitting a final water resource plan to the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). New South Wales Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said this was an important milestone and highlights the New South Wales Government’s commitment to supporting Murray Darling Basin communities. “The New […]
The Henderson Dam on Flinders Island in Tasmania has undergone extensive upgrades to double its storage volume, ensuring a reliable water supply system for residents and reducing the likelihood of water restrictions during dry spells. The Henderson Dam provides a critical water supply system and has been supplying water to the island for many years, but it was beginning to […]
Hunter Water is undertaking detailed reviews to assess and manage the safety of the region’s largest dams, utilising new technology to assist with the process. Dam safety is an important part of Hunter Water’s role as custodian of the region’s drinking water supply, and dams require regular inspections, surveys, maintenance, upgrades and risk management, to ensure they meet modern engineering […]
The Winburndale Dam Flood Security Upgrade is nearing its final stages, with 19 out of 25 pre-stressed ground anchors now installed to reinforce the dam wall. The jointly funded – $2.3 million from the New South Wales Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program and $13.75 million from Bathurst Regional Council – project is using modern engineering practices to strengthen the […]
The Queensland Government has locked in the multi-million dollar final funding for the Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline, with construction expected to start in 2023. The project will support more than 400 jobs in the south west regions. Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, said a lot of hard work has gone into making the final funding decision. “Even while negotiations […]
The wettest Spring on record across the Murray Darling Basin and New South Wales has brought tremendous hardship for thousands of people, and extreme vigilance by WaterNSW in safely managing the state’s inland dams. The recent exceptional weather has helped drive the devastating flooding from which communities across much of regional New South Wales are still recovering, while others brace […]
The Darwin River Dam is due to receive a new pump station to be built to ensure a sustainable and secure water supply for Territorians. Northern Territory Power and Water has awarded the design and construction tender for the new Darwin River Dam pump station to McMahon Services Australia (NT). Northern Territory Minister for Essential Services, Selena Uibo, said, “Darwin’s […]
The Queensland Government announced it is commencing work on raising the Burdekin Falls Dam by 2m. Queensland Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, revealed the plan alongside local MPs Les Walker, Aaron Harper and Scott Stewart. “Burdekin Falls is the largest dam in Queensland – at more than 1.8 million megalitres capacity – and raising it by two metres will significantly […]
Outdated rainfall modelling could risk critical failures in large infrastructure projects, including dams, for failing to accommodate climate change, according to new research from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Melbourne. Researchers found that ‘Probable Maximum Precipitation’ (PMP) estimates for 546 large dams across Australia are expected to increase between 14 and 38 per cent […]
SA Water has revealed conceptual plans for its proposed safety upgrades to its Mount Bold Dam, in a major overhaul featuring a more efficient three-stage spillway for better controlling water releases. The current design features a three-stage spillway along the dam crest – with a primary spillway slot 3m wide by 5.6m high – which will replace a series of […]
Proactive action has been taken at Wivenhoe Dam in anticipation of this summer’s forecast La Nina, with the dam’s temporary full supply level lowered. Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, announced the decision to lower the temporary full supply to 80 per cent, saying the move is to ensure the continued safety of Queenslanders and communities. “In light of forecasts from the […]
SA Water is expected to begin releasing water from its Mount Bold Reservoir, after Spring downpours delivered a further thirteen billion litres of water to the utility’s storage capacity. So far during spring, South Australia’s reservoirs have already received more than two-thirds the amount of inflows compared to winter, with Mount Bold’s water level increasing by around 27 per cent […]
A proposed 14-metre extension to the Warragamba Dam wall in Western Sydney has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) for its potential to mitigate against future floods. New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties and would help future-proof Western Sydney from flood risks. “First and foremost my […]
South Australia’s State Emergency Service (SA SES) has issued an emergency alert after reported structural failures at a privately-owned dam less than 500m from the south-east township of Echunga. Due to the high risk of collapse, SA SES has issued an emergency alert to people in homes which have the potential to flood, advising them to prepare for flooding and […]
Three tenders have been awarded for the rebuilding of Queensland’s Paradise Dam, with contracts delegated for design, geotechnical, and environmental services. Engineering specialist GHD has been appointed to prepare the reference design for the project. This will be used to procure a major construction partner. Jacobs will undertake geotechnical investigations and assess availability of any suitable basalt material that could […]
WaterNSW is closely monitoring rising storage levels at the two major supply dams for the Murrumbidgee Valley, as the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecasts ongoing wet conditions. Burrinjuck Dam, on the Murrumbidgee River, was sitting at 103 per cent capacity as of 8 August 2022 up from 90.5 per cent on 2 August, having received a peak inflow of over […]
Due to heavy rainfall, Central Coast dam levels are at full capacity, with Central West dams being used to hold back water to reduce flooding. The Upper Mooney Dam and Mangrove Creek Dam are at full capacity due to ongoing heavy rainfall in New South Wales. Central Coast Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader, said this is the first […]
The contract to investigate and conduct road safety works around the site of the Paradise Dam has been awarded, with key roads and access points needed prior to the dam’s upgrade. Queensland Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, said local contracting company Harrison Infrastructure Group (HIG) will spearhead an extensive investigation of the road […]
The tender for the new Eurobodalla Dam in New South Wales has been awarded, with construction set to begin soon. Haslin Construction has been awarded the tender to build the 3,000ML off-river water storage dam next to the Tuross River. The $130 million water security project is jointly funded, with the Federal Government committing $51.2 million through its National Water […]
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