Dam Upgrades and Remedial Works

Dam upgrades & remedial works – Design &
Construction
• Prepare detailed designs for upgrade works
Identify the need • Construct upgrade works
Dams are critical infrastructure which provide significant
benefits to communities in many ways including providing Once the upgrade has been completed the dam is returned
water supply, flood mitigation, power generation or to full service and the dam owner monitors the performance
irrigation. These structures may require upgrades or of the dam.
remedial works because of a need for increased storage or
as a result of deterioration due to age, changes in design Service offering
standards or inadequate original design. The need for GHD offers the following services in support of dam
these works can be identified in a number of ways including: upgrade or remedial works:
• Routine surveillance • Safety evaluation of embankment and concrete dams,
• Safety evaluation of dams and appurtenant structures spillways, outlet works, gates, valves, etc.
• Failure of an element of the dam infrastructure • Options studies and concept design for upgrades and
• Evaluation of original design and construction against remedial works
modern design and construction practices • Geotechnical investigations and design
• Portfolio or detailed risk assessment process • Hydrological analysis
• Revised yield or demand assessment • Detail design and tender documentation
• Hydraulic design and modeling
Respond to the need • Structural analysis and design
GHD has experienced dams engineering professionals who • Construction phase support
are able to respond to any need identified, whether in an • Preparation of Operation and Maintenance Manuals
emergency situation or as part of a formal dam and Dam Safety Emergency Plans
improvement program. • Dam safety inspections and monitoring and
surveillance analysis
In a formal dam improvement program, the process which
would normally be followed would consist of the following:
Experience
• Identify deficiencies in the dam design or performance GHD has one of the largest dedicated dams engineering
• Undertake field investigations to establish the material teams across the globe.
properties of the foundations and structures (if
required, e.g. embankment soil properties) GHD has worked closely with clients to respond to their
• Develop concept designs to upgrade relevant dam needs for dam strengthening and upgrades. We have been
components involved in providing solutions to a number of challenging
• Agree an appropriate upgrade option with Client requirements on various projects. Examples of dam
upgrade or remedial works projects are described below.
Upgrade of Googong Dam Spillway – New South Wales, Australia
GHD was engaged in 2006 to undertake a review of the historical performance and prediction of
future performance of the structure. The project included an increase in the capacity of the
spillway to discharge the required spillway design flood. Work under this engagement included a
review and assessment of previous work, the development and comparison of options and
ultimately the detailed design of the preferred arrangement. A scale physical model was
constructed to validate the detailed design. GHD had a full-time site role and provided design
support throughout construction which was completed in 2010.
Eildon Dam Upgrade – Victoria, Australia

The upgrade of Eildon Dam included increasing the spillway capacity to pass extreme flood events
and a safety upgrade to address concerns in regard to the existing embankment. Embankment
upgrade works involved raising the embankment crest by about 4 m to a total height of about 85 m
and the construction of a 1.2 m high parapet wall. Spillway upgrade works involved the anchor
installation to stabilize concrete structures, replacement of mechanical gate actuation system and
modifications to an existing bridge over the spillway. The intake tower was also strengthened.
Safety Upgrade of Quipolly Dam – New South Wales, Australia

GHD was engaged in 2009 to undertake concept and detailed design for the safety upgrade of
Quipolly Dam on behalf of the Liverpool Plains Shire Council. The appointment included hydrology
review, geotechnical investigations, upgrade to improve spillway capacity and reduce the risk of
piping through the embankment and along the spillway retaining wall, OHS upgrade of intake
tower top platform and replacement of intake tower access bridge piers. The client also required
an increase in the storage capacity. Construction was successfully completed in 2013.
Upgrade of Wellington Dam – Western Australia, Australia

Wellington Dam is a 34 m high concrete gravity dam on the Collie River south of Perth impounding
a storage of 180 GL. GHD was appointed by Water Corporation of Western Australia to carry out
the detailed design then to provide construction advice for risk reducing remedial works. The
design included approximately 40 anchors of up to 91 strands to counter uplift pressures on the
dam. The remedial works also included a new bridge for improved access, new downstream toe
drainage and new access through the dam between galleries. Significant concrete cutting tasks
were required and architectural finishes were designed for the bridge and public access zones.
Upgrade of Jindabyne Dam – New South Wales, Australia

Jindabyne Dam is a 71 m high zoned earth and rockfill dam. GHD was engaged to undertake the
concept and detailed design and tender documentation for an upgrade to allow for environmental
releases and to increase the flood discharge capacity. GHD also provided design support during
construction. The project included upgrading the existing spillway structure by retrofitting a
concrete-lined chute, flip bucket and plunge pool, constructing a new 93.8 m wide auxiliary
spillway controlled by 7.6 m high Hydroplus Fusegates and constructing a new 30 m high intake
tower, tunnel and twin cone valves.
Awoonga Dam Valve Refurbishment – Queensland, Australia

In 2009 Gladstone Area Water Board commissioned GHD to develop a strategy to refurbish all the
Intake Tower and River Outlet valves up to 2.2 m diameter, limiting shutdowns to 12 hours. The
strategy included a detail programme for each valve removal/installation shutdown period as well
as an overall project program. Subsequently, GHD was engaged to develop the tender
documents, evaluate the offers and direct the construction risk management process. GHD was
appointed as Superintendent and technical advisor for the contract. Duties included contract
administration, attendance during site work and Factory Acceptance Testing.
Ross River Dam Upgrade – Queensland, Australia

The Ross River Dam was completed in the 1970s as a combined water supply and flood retention
project. The dam was 24 m high and 7700 m long with a combined central core rockfill section
transitioning to a zoned earthfill embankment and free overflow spillway weir section with
downstream energy dissipator. The dam was upgraded using a risk-based design justification by
the provision of downstream filters, raising the embankment crest by 0.7 m and installation of three
3.6 m high radial gates for increasing the storage capacity and improving the flood mitigation.
To contact our dams service line professionals, visit www.ghd.com/dams

Dam Upgrades and Remedial Works

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Dam Upgrades and Remedial Works

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Dam upgrades & remedial works – Design &

Eildon Dam Upgrade – Victoria, Australia

Safety Upgrade of Quipolly Dam – New South Wales, Australia

Upgrade of Wellington Dam – Western Australia, Australia

Upgrade of Jindabyne Dam – New South Wales, Australia

Awoonga Dam Valve Refurbishment – Queensland, Australia

Ross River Dam Upgrade – Queensland, Australia

To contact our dams service line professionals, visit www.ghd.com/dams

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