2008 – Design considerations for upgrading SunWater’s dams for acceptable flood capacity

Brendan Trebilco

Abstract: A number of SunWater’s dams are in the process of being upgraded to the acceptable flood capacity (AFC) to ensure the highest level of safety. The Fred Haigh Dam upgrade was completed in September 2006 and the Bjelke Petersen Dam upgrade was completed in October 2007. Borumba Dam is the latest upgrade being undertaken with construction commencing in April 2008 and is expected to be completed by December 2008. Each dam underwent a comprehensive risk assessment to identify and evaluate all risks with respect to the ANCOLD tolerability limits to ensure risks satisfied ALARP. The assessment identified the most cost effective upgrade solutions for detailed design.

The upgrade at Fred Haigh, Bjelke Petersen and Borumba Dams will enable them to pass an extreme flood equivalent to 50% of the Acceptable Flood Capacity (AFC). This is Stage 1 of a two stage upgrade to ultimately achieve 100% of the ANCOLD “Fallback” AFC which is the standard SunWater has adopted for its major dams. SunWater has prioritised spillway capacity upgrades to achieve a minimum dam portfolio standard of passing 50% Acceptable Flood Capacity inflow by 2015 and full Acceptable Flood Capacity inflow by 2025.

The most economic Stage 1 upgrade option for Fred Haigh, Bjelke Petersen and Borumba Dams was to maintain the existing spillway width and to raise the dam crest with a concrete parapet wall. For the Bjelke Petersen and Borumba Dams the spillway training wall heights were raised to allow for increased flow though the spillway. From the hydraulic model studies and flood routing a height of each different dam crest wall was obtained.

This paper will describe the different methods and considerations used for upgrading Fred Haigh, Bjelke Petersen and Borumba Dams to the 50% AFC.

Keywords: dam safety, spillway, Fred Haigh Dam, Bjelke Petersen Dam, Borumba Dam, SunWater, Queensland.