Dams engineering and compliance
Practical dam safety, inspection and engineering support for asset owners across Australia.
Dams engineering and compliance
Practical dam safety, inspection and engineering support for asset owners across Australia.
Supporting Australia’s dams, basins and levees
Australia’s dams, detention basins and levees operate in a highly regulated environment, with ongoing dam safety and regulatory obligations for asset owners. We support councils, utilities, mining operators and private owners with practical, risk-based solutions designed to support compliance with regulatory requirements without unnecessary over-engineering.
From dam safety inspections and consequence reassessment through to spillway design, embankment upgrades and remediation works, our team brings substantial technical experience, strong ANCOLD knowledge and hands-on site experience to help clients navigate compliance obligations with practical support.
We work on the following type of dams: detention basins and urban flood storage dams, levees and flood protection embankments, service ponds and settling ponds, evaporation ponds and lined storage ponds, mine site water and process ponds, small water supply and environmental dams.
Supporting Australia’s dams, basins and levees
Australia’s dams, detention basins and levees operate in a highly regulated environment, with ongoing dam safety and regulatory obligations for asset owners. We support councils, utilities, mining operators and private owners with practical, risk-based solutions designed to support compliance with regulatory requirements without unnecessary over-engineering.
From dam safety inspections and consequence reassessment through to spillway design, embankment upgrades and remediation works, our team brings substantial technical experience, strong ANCOLD knowledge and hands-on site experience to help clients navigate compliance obligations with practical support.
We work on the following type of dams: detention basins and urban flood storage dams, levees and flood protection embankments, service ponds and settling ponds, evaporation ponds and lined storage ponds, mine site water and process ponds, small water supply and environmental dams.
What we do
Practical dam engineering and compliance obligation support
pitt&sherry delivers dam engineering services focused on supporting statutory compliance, safety and constructability. We have substantial experience in supporting low and significant consequence dams and detention basins, with targeted experience supporting higher consequence assets where required. Our engineers work closely with asset owners and contractors to deliver practical, well reasoned engineering outcomes.
Ways we support your dams
When dam projects demand more than inspections alone, we draw on substantial capability across our water, geotechnical and structures teams.
Dam safety inspections and surveillance
Intermediate and comprehensive inspections aligned with ANCOLD and applicable state regulations.
Spillway assessment and redesign
Including hydraulic assessment, freeboard checks, scour protection and constructability review.
Embankment assessment and remediation
Materials evaluation, settlement assessment and practical upgrade designs.
Consequence reassessment and risk reduction
Re-evaluating conservative classifications to identify whether compliance obligations can be more proportionately aligned to actual risk.
Levee assessment and permit close‑out
Long‑term surveillance programs, condition assessment and regulator engagement.
How we support your dams
Navigating dam safety compliance
Standards that guide our work
We understand the regulatory frameworks and industry guidelines that govern dam safety in Australia. Our work regularly supports clients in addressing ANCOLD Guidelines, state dam safety legislation and regulator permit conditions, including documentation prepared to support audit and approval processes where required.
ANCOLD guidelines
The Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) produces the guidelines that underpin dam safety practice in Australia. Our team has substantial experience applying these guidelines including in relation to consequence categorisation, dam safety management and surveillance.
State-based dam legislation
Each state has its own regulations for construction, operation and safety of dams. We understand the surveillance and compliance obligations that apply to asset owners and operators in the jurisdictions where we work - and we help our clients navigate those obligations in the jurisdictions where we work.