Southern Downs ratepayers continue to fork out funds as a result of State Government regulations – this time it’s for Stanthorpe’s Storm King Dam.
The Southern Downs Regional Council is required to upgrade the facility to meet the new dam Safety Conditions, issued by the Dam Safety Regulation, Department of Environmental and Resource Management, which comes at an estimated cost of $1,274,000 for strengthening the dam wall and $63,000 for in-house project management costs.
These costs are eligible for a 40 per cent subsidy from the Department, which leaves ratepayers footing more than three quarters of a million dollars of the total bill.
Mayor Ron Bellingham said the council had no choice, as the licensing of the dam required compliance with State Government regulations.
The council decided at its general meeting last week to invite three companies to tender for the stability upgrade required to allow Storm King Dam to safely pass 100 per cent of the acceptable flood capacity.
The design for the upgrade is to install permanent post tensioned rock anchors and permanent dowels into the dam wall.
“There will be no chance of the dam overturning in the maximum probable storm event (as a result of these works),” Cr Bellingham said.
The council will consider tenders from Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd, Geotechnical Engineering Pty Ltd and Structural System (Civil) Pty Ltd, with construction set to occur in 2012.
Story: Rebecca Brown
