SOMERSET DAM TOWNSHIP WATER TREATMENT PLANT,
RESERVOIR ACCESS ROAD AND DRAINAGE REFURBISHMENT
COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE.
SECTOR / DISCIPLINE
Roads and Water Infrastructure
LOCATION
Somerset Region, Qld
DATE
July 2022
ASSET OWNER
Seqwater
CLIENT/DELIVERY AGENCY
Seqwater
VALUE
$2m
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
During the February 2022 flood event, the greater Brisbane area
experienced an unprecedented 680mm of rainfall, resulting in 2.2 million megaliters flowing into Wivenhoe Dam. This impacted several Seqwater assets, including the Somerset Dam Township Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Somerset Dam Raw Water Pump Station (RWPS), and Treated Water Reservoir (TWR), accessible via a series of unsealed gravel roads off Esk Kilcoy Road.
The excessive rainfall, combined with steep gradients and poor structural integrity of the road materials, led to numerous pavement and drainage failures. Additionally, issues with a hair-pin turn near the site entrance exacerbated safety concerns, making the left turn onto Esk Kilcoy Road unsafe.
The project’s objective was to address Seqwater Enterprise Risks (ER), focusing on Workplace Health and Safety due to unsafe road conditions and water security concerns regarding potential obstacles for chemical delivery trucks accessing the WTP.
JC CIVIL PROJECTS ROLE
JC Civil Projects was engaged during the project’s feasibility phase to prepare an independent cost estimate to support Seqwater in obtaining capital funding through the Sustaining Capital Planning Investigations (SCPI) program.
KEY DELIVERABLES
JC Civil Projects played a important role in the feasibility phase of the project, which included:
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Identified precise cost estimate information
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Offered three potential areas for cost and program savings to the client
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Identified and optimised the proposed construction methodology for the project
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Recommended enhanced geotechnical testing to advance the project’s design
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Identified potential site issues to the client, collaborating with the designer to revise designs as needed.
KEY PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
The project highlights included:
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Refurbishment of approximately 600m of unsealed gravel access road and associated drainage leading to the Somerset Dam Township WTP, Somerset Dam RWPS, and the TWR.
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The project was successfully delivered in compliance with Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) and Austroads standards.
OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
JC Civil Projects provided a project cost summary based on first principles estimating and industry best practices, ensuring an accuracy range of +/- 130%. This estimate included a thorough risk analysis and contingency planning.