$40 million upgrade of Wellington Dam
The State Government has awarded a $40 million alliance contract to bring the 70-year-old Wellington Dam into line with today’s engineering standards.
Work would commence shortly on the project and form part of the Water Corporation’s ongoing State-wide Dam Remedial Works Program.
The successful contractor, known as the Wellington Dam Alliance, combines the expertise of Leighton Contractors, AECOM, Hydro Tasmania and Structural System Limited working with the corporation.
Water Minister Graham Jacobs said the project would take about two years to complete and was expected to contribute more than $5million to the local South-West economy.
“The project will provide opportunities for local contractors, material suppliers, accommodation providers and job seekers in Collie and the broader South-West region,” Dr Jacobs said.
“This will be a great boost for the local economy at a time when it is most welcomed and Leighton Contractors have started advertising locally for various positions.
“The net result will be the upkeep of an important State asset and another boost for local workers and businesses.”
The Minister said a series of high-tensile steel cables would be installed vertically through the wall into the bedrock below to enhance the dam’s stability.
“This is a commonly used approach for big dams like Wellington,” he said.
“An operations bridge will be built along the crest of the dam to provide access to install the steel cables and enable future maintenance and monitoring.”
Dr Jacobs said the project would not impact the spectacle created when the dam overflowed.
“The storage capacity, height and basic design of the dam will remain essentially unchanged and overflows will occur in very wet years as we have seen in the past,” he said.
The Water Corporation had investigated the concept of making the maintenance bridge accessible to pedestrians after the works had been completed. However, following a detailed design and planning review it was now expected that to ensure public safety the bridge would be accessible only for operational purposes.
Public access around the dam would be limited while the works take place, however, viewing would remain from the existing lookout and access to the Wellington Dam Cafe maintained.
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Alan James
Posts: 2242
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Dam Upgrade
Quote "The storage capacity, height and basic design of the dam will remain essentially unchanged".
Well that sounds like a good outcome after spending $40million.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
I think the key point was
I think the key point was this;
The State Government has awarded a $40 million alliance contract to bring the 70-year-old Wellington Dam into line with today’s engineering standards.
Its being upgraded so it doesn't kill anyone, not hold more water =)
Alan James
Posts: 2242
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Half full or half empty
Excuse the pun. I guess there are a number of ways of looking at it. I wouldn't have expected that a 70 year old dam would require upgrading to today's engineering standards. Just because a structure is 70 year old it shouldn't mean it's insecure or needs to be upgraded to today's engineering standards. The comment that high-tensile steel cables will be installed vertically through the wall into the bedrock below to enhance the dam’s stability does however suggest there are concerns with respect to the integrity of the structure be it related to the original design or construction. jmo.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Public safety is a pretty
Public safety is a pretty tedious issue, but personally I wouldn't expect that a structure built 70yrs ago would adhere to current construction regs.
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
I think the peak concrete
I think the peak concrete strength for modern concrete is about 30 years then it starts to reduce at a very very slow rate. They probably have to get heavier into the service of the structure as a duty of care etc.
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Alan James
Posts: 2242
Date Joined: 30/06/09
The issue of compliance with
The issue of compliance with current regulations is imo irrelevant. I'm sure the foundations of the old house I live in do not comply with current construction regs either, but that doesn't mean the house is not to structurally sound and requires upgrading.
Agree that public safety is paramount.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Err the point is that public
Err the point is that public safety regs CHANGE and the dam, unlike your house, is public infrastructure and duty of care would require that its upgraded.
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Let's spend the money on Subiaco Oval Upgrade
Or whatever.... If there is a fossil it's Subi oval. OK you lot.. I agree.. there needs to be a structural review of all major "structures" over time with the safety of everyone in mind. Has this structure been deemed as unsafe? Or is it just not meeting some ISO standard? Maybe someone from the Water Corp can add some value to this conversation.
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Alan James
Posts: 2242
Date Joined: 30/06/09
Dam Upgrade
Maybe the words "to bring the 70-year-old Wellington Dam into line with today’s engineering standards" really means we have detected movement in the dam wall and will be putting measures in place to maintain the dam's stability and ensure public safety.
If it ain't broke, why fix it.