Dam able to weather any storm

Upgrades to Storm King Dam continue, with the start of works on Monday to strengthen the dam wall to withstand a one in 100,000 year flood.
The work follows completion of inlet works in late 2011. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.25m, which is 40 per cent funded by the State Government.
Rock anchors and dowels will be installed into the wall of the dam to safely pass 100 per cent of Queensland’s Acceptable Flood Capacity specifications as required by the Queensland Government.
Council has contracted Geotech Pty Ltd, a structural engineering company specialising in post tensioning work, to anchor steel cables vertically through the dam wall into the bedrock.
The project must be completed by June 30 to meet strict deadlines set by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
Residents should not be worried about the stability of the dam, said Peter See, Director of Engineering Services.
“The dam, currently, is capable of withstanding any major flood that is likely to occur in its lifetime,” Mr See said.
“However, the State Government has decreed that, because it is upstream of Stanthorpe, it must be able to withstand a one in 100,000 year flood,” he explained.
“Such a flood is unlikely to occur. However, should it occur in the future, these works will ensure that the Stanthorpe community will not have to worry about the dam failing.”
Storm King Dam was originally built in 1954 and supplies the drinking water supply for Stanthorpe. This work is not expected to interrupt the Stanthorpe water supply.
This work continues Council’s program of maintenance and replacement to water mains around Stanthorpe. Council recently upgraded water infrastructure in the Stanthorpe main street and in 2010/11 Council replaced over 130 valves and hydrants along the Stanthorpe water mains.