Around $500 million in early and enabling works are expected to commence on Somerset Dam this year as part of the first stage of Seqwater’s Somerset Dam Improvement Project.

Seqwater Executive General Manager, Infrastructure Planning and Capital Delivery, Sarah Dixon, said the project will ensure the longevity of one of the region’s oldest and largest water storages. 

“Somerset Dam plays a vital role in the SEQ Water Grid and supports Seqwater to provide water for life for more than 3.8 million people across the region,” said Ms Dixon.

“While Somerset Dam continues to operate safely, the Dam Improvement Project will ensure the dam meets modern engineering and design standards to provide ongoing safety and water security for years to come,” she said.  

The early and enabling works will include the removal of the spillway (radial) gates, replacement of eight sluice gates nearing the end of their service life, civil works and the installation of an interim drainage curtain to prepare the dam for major works in the future. 

Following a competitive tender process, Seqwater has awarded AVK Australia to manufacture 26 purpose-built and hydraulically operated gates, including the new sluice gates.

AECOM will design a temporary cofferdam to allow works to be undertaken safely, plus civil works including temporary and permanent access roads to support the project and mitigate community impacts. 

GHD will also commence the design of an interim drainage curtain that will see a series of boreholes drilled deep into the dam’s foundation to relieve pressure and enhance the stability of the structure.   

The Dam Improvement Project is expected to support 150 jobs throughout the duration of works and Seqwater is encouraging local contractors and suppliers in the region to register their interest in future partnership opportunities by visiting the Seqwater website. 

Ms Dixon said site establishment works have been underway since 2024 including geotechnical investigations and the installation of piezometers. Geotechnical activities are continuing, with in-river investigations planned to begin soon. 

“The piezometers are providing Seqwater with important foundation pressure data to assist with the detailed design for this major dam upgrade. They also enable enhanced dam safety surveillance which will be important throughout the dam upgrade and beyond,” said Ms Dixon. 

A Detailed Business Case is underway to carefully assess the preferred option for upgrading Somerset Dam. The early and enabling works are required irrespective of the final design option chosen as part of this process. 

Seqwater would like to thank the community for their ongoing support and remains committed to keeping the community informed about this important water security and dam safety project. 

For more information, visit the Seqwater website. To connect with a member of the project team, email [email protected] or call 07 3432 7000 (during business hours).

The early and enabling works, set to commence on-site in 2025, will include the removal of the spillway (radial) gates, replacement of eight sluice gates, geotechnical investigations and installation of a drainage curtain, in preparation for the major dam upgrade planned for the site.   

Procurement activities to support the early and enabling works are underway, including for the manufacture of new, purpose-built and hydraulically operated sluice gates. Seqwater is also calling on contractors in the Somerset Region to register their interest in the project, with local partnership opportunities to follow.     

The Somerset Dam Improvement Project is expected to support approximately 150 jobs throughout the life of the project.   

Seqwater is committed to keeping the community informed throughout the project and is holding community information drop-in sessions, where the project team will be available to answer any questions about the upcoming works: 

• Wednesday 31 July, 2pm-5pm - Somerset Dam General Store 
• Thursday 8 August, 2pm-5pm - Esk CWA Hall 
• Thursday 15 August, 3pm-6pm - Booval Fair Shopping Centre, Ipswich 
• Saturday 17 August, 9am-12noon - Coronation Hall, Somerset Dam 
• Tuesday 20 August, 9am-12noon - Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre 

Contractors click here to register your interest in the project, or for more information on the Somerset Dam Improvement Project, visit our website at Somerset Dam Improvement Project | Seqwater. 

The MID process coordinates development approval directly with the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works (DHLGPP) with input from other government agencies. An application for a MID would require Seqwater to meet the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules in relation to environmental assessment and stakeholder consultation.

Maps showing the MID study area and key project components are provided below.  

As part of this process, Seqwater is seeking initial feedback from the community on the proposed MID by Sunday 25 August 2024. Click here to launch the feedback webform, we’d love to hear from you! 

For detailed information about the MID process, head over to the DHLGPP website at https://planning.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/infrastructure-planning/ministerial-infrastructure-designations. 

To view the referral, visit https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/all-referrals/project-referral-summary/?id=0f79a9dd-0722-ef11-840a-00224892bf72 OR visit https://epbcpublicportal.awe.gov.au/all-referrals/ and search for EPBC number 2024/09893.

Given the scale of construction activities planned for Somerset Dam, and its location adjacent to large areas of bushland, there are unfortunately unavoidable environmental impacts expected as part of the project. This includes vegetation clearing, but also indirect impacts from noise, lighting, and vehicle movements.

As part of the planning and delivery for the project, Seqwater has undertaken extensive environmental investigations. Both desktop and field surveys are used during the investigations to help identify and map protected plant species, important habitats, and protected animals at the dam and surrounds.

We recognise that projects can have an impact on the environment and therefore we are committed to minimising impacts where possible and demonstrate environmental responsibility by meeting any legislative, regulatory and duty of care requirements.

For more information, please contact our team via [email protected] or phone 07 3432 7000.

Early and Enabling Works 

While detailed planning for the business case continues, Seqwater has identified an opportunity to undertake Early and Enabling Works, as announced here.  

The Early and Enabling Works are required to be completed irrespective of the final design configuration and will involve a range of preliminary activities that support the main dam upgrade.  

Early and Enabling Works in and around Somerset Dam are expected to progressively commence and are likely to include:  

• Broad scale geotechnical investigations including the installation of dam surveillance instrumentation. 
• Removal of existing spillway (radial) gates as these no longer form part of Seqwater’s operation of the dam.  
• Replacement of the sluice gates (gates at the bottom of the dam wall) and outlets that are reaching the end of their serviceable life. 
• Construction of a temporary coffer dam that will help to maintain a dry work site downstream when investigations and construction commences in areas currently submerged. 
• Relocation of the existing operations facilities to allow construction of the future main dam upgrade. 
• Temporary and permanent access road works including a permanent realignment of Esk-Kilcoy Road and a new access to the dam wall from Wivenhoe-Somerset Road. 
• A range of investigations, studies and assessments to support finalisation of the Detailed Business Case for the main dam upgrade. 
   

Main Dam Upgrade

Seqwater is developing a Detailed Business Case for the Somerset Dam Improvement Project. As part of this work, extensive technical investigations have been undertaken to inform design options, including geotechnical investigations, hydraulic modelling of the spillway and dissipator basin using a scale laboratory model, 3D scanning of the dam wall, downstream bathymetry and lidar aerial surveys. 

While a final design configuration for the Somerset Dam Improvement Project will be determined through the Detailed Business Case process, current design elements are likely to include:  

• Raising the height of the dam wall to improve dam function during very extreme floods 
• Extending and reinforcing the dissipator basin and training walls, plus adding a new control structure, downstream of the spillway to reduce energy from the spillway flow in very extreme weather events 
• Adding concrete to the downstream face of the dam wall to help strengthen the wall. 
   

For More Information 

To sign up for project updates and receive updates on upcoming community engagement opportunities, fill out the newsletter subscription request at the bottom of the web page, or email us requesting to be added to the Somerset Dam Improvement Project update list.  

For more information on the project, contact the project team via: 

• 07 3432 7000 (during business hours) 
• [email protected] 

Non-English speakers call 131 450 and ask for Seqwater on 07 3035 5500. 

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service and give the number 07 3035 5500 a call or visit www.relayservice.gov.au for more information. 

The briefing will introduce Seqwater and the program, and provide high level detail around project timing and delivery, as well as outline the approach to partnering throughout the program.

Event details:

• Date: Friday 10 May 2024
• Time: Arrival at 2.15pm (AEST) to register for a 2:30pm start (allow approx. 60 mins).
• Location: Seqwater Office, Level 2, 200 Creek Street, Spring Hill.
• Online meeting option also available.

To register for an event, please click https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dam-improvement-program-market-briefings-3303699. Spaces for those attending in-person may be limited and Seqwater requests a maximum of two persons per company attend each event.

Participation in the market briefing is not a prerequisite for Expression of Interest submissions. For further procurement information, email [email protected].