Due to the drought at the time, this project was built to access water in the deepest part of the Warragamba Dam below the current intake port, resulting in immediate availability of an additional 170 billion litres of sustainable water storage. It involved removal of the 17 tonne concrete plug 70m below the water surface. New excavation, pumps, motors and pipe laying was undertaken to allow water to flow down to a newly refurbished pumping station.
This project won the Australian Construction Achievement Award in 2008 and was completed safely and under budget to an exceptional 14 month timeframe.
Nigel Pohio of BEM Group was contracted as General Superintendent (Tunnels) for this project.
