Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project
Dams are long-life assets which require continual assessment, monitoring and maintenance. South East Queensland dams were built to high safety standards, but most were built some decades ago. Across Queensland and Australia, there are multiple dam upgrades occurring to meet modern engineering standards. Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program is ensuring its dams comply with the latest safety standards and continue to function safely during extreme weather events in line with regulatory requirements.
The Project
The Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project includes:
Lowering the Lake Macdonald water storage to accommodate construction.
Relocation of fish by expert fish biologists, via a purpose-built fish transport vehicle, to Cooloolabin Dam.
Construction of a cofferdam to protect the site and manage flows in Six Mile Creek during construction.
Demolition of the existing spillway and dam wall.
Removal of unsuitable foundation material under the new spillway, excavating down to a rock foundation, then backfilling with mass concrete.
Construction of a split-level concrete spillway. The primary spillway will be set at the original lake level, and an upper labyrinth spillway will be constructed for large floods.
Removal and reconstruction of the earth embankments on either side of the primary spillway.
Ground improvement works below the new embankments.
Provision of a new outlet works structure to enable environmental releases downstream of the dam into Six Mile Creek.
Additional works include fish protection measures (including proposed construction of a fishway at Gympie Weir), land management activities and rehabilitation.
The Feedback
"Joel has a strong reputation and broad network gathered over a long time working within the engineering sector. He is highly regarded due to his professional approach with both candidates and clients and this ensures he is the preferred choice within the sector."
Resourcing Manager – Infrastructure & Major Projects