Dam Improvement Program

Dam Improvement Program

Queensland

A Dam Improvement Program is currently underway to ensure the long-term viability and safety of Sunwater storages.

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Program overview

Water storages are long-life assets which require continual assessment, monitoring and maintenance to ensure they can provide a safe and secure water supply for years to come.

Sunwater is committed to ensuring its referable storages meet best practice guidelines as a responsible owner and operator of water infrastructure in Queensland.

The Dam Improvement Program (DIP) is a dedicated program that addresses the requirements outlined by the Queensland Government’s Dam Safety Management Guideline.

Sunwater’s DIP ensures its storages continue to meet modern engineering standards and safety requirements and can safely pass excess water volumes during periods of extreme rainfall. The program assesses, identifies, and addresses issues so that all referable storages demonstrate a risk position that is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).

Current program status

Like all major infrastructure, maintenance and upkeep is required to ensure our assets can continue to operateat their best. This is especially true for some of our dams, some of which have been in operation for more than 50 years.

Advancements in knowledge and water infrastructure technology have enabled water resource providers to better understand and manage the impacts on dams caused by natural events, including floods, earthquakes, as well as the general wear on infrastructure over time.

The Queensland Government’s Guidelines on Acceptable Flood Capacity for Water Dams (AFC) influence which of Sunwater dams require upgrades. These guidelines define the magnitude and frequency of rainfall and flood events that are acceptable for dam stability and define the capacity of the spillway.

The Sunwater DIP will improve asset longevity and result in Sunwater’s dam portfolio having a risk profile that is demonstrably acceptable when assessed against Queensland Guidelines and industry best practice.

Sunwater has undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment on 23 referable storages, some of which have been identified as needing improvement work to meet an ALARP position within prescribed government timelines.

Two of the storages, Paradise Dam and Burdekin Falls Dam, already have comprehensive plans in place to reduce these risks.

Sunwater is now focusing on confirming the required improvement work for the remaining identified storages. This work will include developing concept designs and undertaking options analyses to shortlist preferred options.

Detailed business cases may then be required, depending on each storages’ preferred options, to fully evaluate their viability from a socio-economic, environmental, financial and sustainability perspective (as per the Queensland Government’s Business Case Development Framework) and enable investment decisions.  

The prioritisation and sequencing of the improvement work is subject to change as investigations continue and new information is identified.

Sunwater is committed to reducing safety risks for all referable structures, by the 1 October 2035 deadline set by Queensland’s Dam Safety Regulator.

Frequently asked questions

What is dam safety?
Dam safety is protection from the effects of dam failure. It is about management of dams to minimise risk to life, property, essential services and the environment and is the responsibility of dam owners.

What is ANCOLD?

The Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) is an Australian-based voluntary association of organisations and individuals with a common technical interest in dams who prepare and issue guidelines that represent good engineering practice.

What is ALARP?

Sunwater’s obligations are to demonstrate a risk profile for our referable structures that is ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ (ALARP), in line with good industry practice. 

What does the 2035 deadline mean?

The Queensland Government’s Dam Safety Management Guideline requires Sunwater to demonstrate it has reduced the safety risks associated with its referable storages, in line with good industry practice, as soon as reasonably practicable but no later than 1 October 2035.

What is a referable storage?

Dams or water storages that put two or more people at risk in the event of failure are regulated by the Queensland Government and are classified as ‘referable’.

Why are improvements needed to Sunwater assets?

Water storages are long-life assets which require continual assessment, monitoring, and maintenance.

Advancements in knowledge and water infrastructure technology have enabled water resource providers to better understand and manage the impacts on storages caused by natural environmental events, and general wear over time.

Sunwater is committed to ensuring its storages meet best practice guidelines as a responsible owner and operator of water infrastructure in Queensland.

What is the Dam Improvement Program (DIP)?

The Dam Improvement Program (DIP) is a dedicated program that addresses the requirements outlined by the Queensland Government’s Dam Safety Management Guideline.

Sunwater’s DIP ensures its storages continue to meet modern engineering standards and safety requirements and can safely pass excess water volumes during periods of extreme rainfall. The program assesses, identifies, and addresses issues so that all referable storages demonstrate a risk position that is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).

Which Sunwater storages are involved in the DIP?

Sunwater has 23 referable storages, some of which require improvement work to reduce risk and meet standards set by the Queensland Government.

Paradise Dam and Burdekin Falls Dam have improvement projects underway.

Sunwater is currently focusing on the following four dams, to confirm the required improvement work to demonstrate an ALARP position:

  • Fred Haigh Dam
  • Tinaroo Falls Dam
  • Fairbairn Dam
  • Kroombit Dam

How much will the DIP cost?
Costs for the DIP will be determined progressively, on a project-by-project basis.