25 July 2011

The National Capital Authority will complete a major hydraulic upgrade of Scrivener Dam tomorrow.

Over the last four weeks, the hydraulic system that controls the Scrivener Dam flap gates have been replaced. The pump, motor and valving on each flap gate have been changed with modern equivalents.

“This is the first time the hydraulic control system has been replaced since the dam was completed in 1963,” said Gary Rake, NCA Chief Executive.

The section of Lady Denman Drive that passes over Scrivener Dam will be partially closed from 10am until 3pm on Tuesday 26 July to complete the upgrade works.

“The road will be partially closed to allow workers access to the dam gallery.

“The obsolete equipment will be craned from the gallery via access panels in the road,” Mr Rake said.

The total cost for the hydraulic upgrade of Scrivener Dam is $607,000.

SCRIVENER DAM FACTS

• Scrivener Dam is 33 metres high and 319 metres long.
• The dam has a five bay spillway controlled by 30.5 metre wide, hydraulically operated fish-belly flap gates with a total discharge capacity of 8 500 cubic metres a second.
• It took 55 000 cubic metres of concrete to build the dam.
• The maximum wall thickness is 19.7 metres.
• The dam holds back 33 million cubic metres of water with a surface area of 664 hectares (approximately seven square kms).


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