Wyangala consultation continues

17 May 2011

The fifth meeting of the Wyangala Dam working party was held on Wednesday, 11 May with Mayors and General Managers of Cowra and Boorowa Councils joining State Water project managers in Boorowa Council Chambers.

The meetings give councils the opportunity to keep updated on the upgrade State Water Project Director Frank Kinnas said.

“Throughout the project the working party has provided a forum for us as project managers to keep the local councils informed and to discuss any issues or rumours Councils may have been approached about,” Mr Kinnas said.

NSW Public Works was awarded the tender for geotechnical investigations on the alternative access bridge and road and will carry out tests on the road and river in the coming weeks.

“The upgrade is progressing well, with detailed design on the alternative access 50 per cent complete, and geotechnical investigations to commence next week.

“The alternative route was endorsed by the working party at a meeting last year as the preferred option once the road across the top of the dam wall is closed.

“Once constructed, the alternative access will mean State Water staff working on the dam crest won’t be at risk from traffic which often travels at high speed along the road.

“The alternative access is also a necessary measure to prevent unauthorised access to and operation of this multi-million dollar critical infrastructure.”

NGH Environmental was awarded the contract to prepare the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the alternative access and additional community consultation will be undertaken by GHD.

“Although the majority of residents support the alternative access route the additional community consultation will help clarify any concerns from other residents and propose options to mitigate any issues.”

Detailed design of the gate raising and locking system as part of the upgrade to ensure the dam can safely withstand extreme floods is also being carried out by NSW Public Works.

The REF for the crest raising works is currently being finalized and the tender for detailed design will close on Tuesday, 7 June. Works to raise the crest will not be carried out until the alternative access is operational.

-ENDS-

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