Geological Consulting has supported Stantec on several New Zealand dam safety projects. They have provided desktop studies and site investigations; where a good understanding of the local geology, dam and foundation materials, instrumentation, and wider dam safety issues including flooding, internal erosion and seismicity has been required. They have consistently exceeded expectations in terms of technical delivery, programme, safety, and end-client satisfaction.
See All Projects
Project
Mount Bold Dam – Safety Upgrade Preliminary Design
Client: SMEC Australia Pty Ltd
Location: South Australia, Australia
Date: 2021
SA Water commissioned SMEC to undertake the concept design of the safety upgrade of Mount Bold Dam. Located on the Onkaparinga River 25km southeast of Adelaide, the dam was originally constructed in the 1930s and subsequently raised by 4.3 m in the 1960s. The dam has concrete gravity sections on each abutment and an arch section across the valley floor, with a maximum dam height of 58 m and a crest length of about 230 m.
The objective of the safety upgrade is to increase the spillway capacity of the dam and to strengthen it, particularly for earthquake and flood loading. The safety upgrade will include the significant raising of the gravity abutment monoliths of the dam. Both concrete buttressing and post-tensioned anchors were considered for strengthening. In addition, the safety upgrade requires the construction of a new saddle dam that will have a height of approximately 10 m, and a crest length of about 350 m.
Geological Consulting worked as part of the SMEC team to prepare the concept design. The scope of work included a data review and gap analysis, new investigations to address identified knowledge gaps, geological model development (both 2D and 3D), and material characterisation.