September 2020
Construction Update
As you may already be aware, the lake at Ewen Maddock Dam has now been lowered to less than 60% for work to start on the embankment wall. This work is now well underway, with the project slightly ahead of schedule.
Together with Sunshine Coast-based local contractor Hall Contracting, Seqwater installed six siphons to safely release water. By using gravity and siphons in place of more traditional systems like diesel-fuelled pumps, carbon emissions have been reduced by about 235 tonnes. This approach, which was decided during the planning stages, also helped to reduce the length of the project and enable much of the embankment strengthening work to be completed within the dry season.
Horse float carpark
Seqwater has increased the size of the horse float carparking area by 25% at Maddock Park. The upgrade now means visitors towing a horse float can safely do a U-turn without entering the construction area. The additional space has also increased the number of carparks for multi-use trail users and includes new carparking, recreation and project information signage, delineation markers and fencing.
Environment
The Seqwater team has been closely watching for environmental impacts throughout the lake lowering using historical survey data and also a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, usually a drone). Riparian vegetation is still in very good health and water quality is being monitored for any impact on the health of foraging bird and aquatic species. Flora and fauna monitoring will continue during the construction lowering phase of this project.
Timing
This 18-month project is part of Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program which will bring the dam in line with modern engineering design standards. The embankment work will also improve the existing beach and swimming area. Once work is complete, the lake will refill naturally to its normal capacity dependent on adequate rainfall across the catchment.
Work started in April 2020 and is expected to be complete in the second half of 2021, weather permitting.
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For more information
w https://www.seqwater.com.au/project/ewen-maddock-dam-upgrade
e [email protected]
p 1300 SEQWATER (1300 737 928)
