Actew’s movie makers have been busy with the footage from the flood event and now there’s five minutes of aquatic goodness which the ACT’s paying for one way or another.
They posted it with this note:
The extraordinary rainfall and flooding at the beginning of March 2012 has had a signifcant impact at the Enlarged Cotter Dam [...]

The ABC are crunching the numbers out at the Cotter Dam Expansion.
The budget for the Cotter dam enlargement project is set to blow out to more than $400 million.
The ACT Government has revealed the cost of the project rose by $33.5 million to almost $379 million, before floodwaters inundated the construction site earlier this [...]

The Liberals’ Vicki Dunne is asking some hard questions about what’s going on at the Cotter Dam expanstion:
Today it has been revealed that $315.7 million has already been spent on the Cotter Dam, before the impacts of the March floods are even taken into account. ACT Shadow Nature Conservation and Water Minister Vicki Dunne [...]

The Cotter Dam Expansion Dam Cam is showing the worst case scenario of flood waters rising over the under-construction wall as the capacity of the river diversion is comprehensively overwhelmed.
Let’s hope the raging torrent doesn’t undermine the wall or this will become a disaster of 2003 bushfires proportion.
We certainly hope that doesn’t happen, but it’s [...]

The Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission has issued a discussion paper as they mull over what to do with the price of water in an ACT now awash with water (which means drought cannot be far away)
As I write now, I can record that the drought that resulted in reduced inflows to the dams and [...]

The ABC brings word of trouble at the dam as accidents prompt another very expensive shut down:
More than 20 serious safety issues have been reported since work began on the Cotter Dam enlargement project.
In the past week there has been another two incidents, prompting WorkSafe ACT to issue a 13th prohibition notice.
A worker drilling [...]

Actew have YouTubed their latest offering of construction on the expanded Cotter Dam.
If you like watching big machines work you’ll love this.

Territory And Municipal Services are warning that they’re permanently closing Vanitys Crossing way out in the mountains to protect water quality:
“TAMS’ decision to permanently close Vanity’s Crossing follows advice from ActewAGL and is a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of contamination or an event which would make the Cotter Reservoir unusable as a source [...]

Forget all the nerdy engineering stuff going on at the new Cotter Dam, leave that to the engineers!
This is a great video piece from ACTEW with a local choir helping “sing” the wall into place.

ACTEW have posted more glorious video of their work to build the new Cotter Dam.
Intriguing that they’re building the intake tower with jump form construction which they claim is unique.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has announced the end to excavation works at the Cotter Dam.
“Today marks an important shift in focus from preparatory work to concrete placement. Excavation of the foundation has now been completed, and the pouring of concrete for the new wall will soon commence.
“The Enlarged Cotter Dam is the ACT’s flagship water [...]

Actew are letting you all know that they’re ready to pour concrete for the new Cotter Dam wall at a phenomenal rate of 5,000 cubic metres per day.
It might be time for another trip to the observation platform.

Actew have produced one of their best videos on the scale of construction at the Cotter Dam enlargement construction site. 9km of habitat for Macquarie Perch!
Join us on site to see the activity during April and May 2011 at the Enlarged Cotter Dam, with a special focus on the work to create new habitat for [...]

Well who doesn’t like a big explosion?
This one was posted by Actew with this note:
Controlled blasts occur regularly onsite at the Enlarged Cotter Dam but are rarely seen due to necessary safety clearance zones. Check out this blast filmed in March 2011.

Actew’s Mark Sullivan has made a lengthy statement on delays at the new Cotter Dam (pushing the project back three months) following the heavy rains we’ve been having.
In particular the diversion scheme has had to be re-done to deal with a river rather than a creek.
“The diversion was designed to manage conditions which were expected [...]

ACTEW have proudly announced that they’ve finished the first saddle dam as part of the Cotter Dam expansion:
The saddle dam is an embankment dam as opposed to the main dam which will be a concrete dam. It is approximately 22 metres high with a 250 metre wide crest, and is built from clay, rock and [...]

[First filed: Dec 3, 2010 @ 10:44]
This was the Cotter Dam yesterday:

And this is it today
[Photos by Androo]
Note the bed of the new dam wall appears to be disappearing fast.
On the bright side ACTEW CEO Mark Sullivan has tweeted thusly:
We will likely see dams at 100% capacity within the day. Googong will top as [...]

ACTEW have announced they’ve closed the Cotter Precinct due to the rain.
ACTEW advises of a road closure at the Cotter Precinct, with Cotter Road temporarily closed from Brindabella Road due to bridge flooding.
Roads ACT (TAMS) will advise when the road is re-opened.
The Cotter Dam Discovery Trail is also closed.

Canberra’s leading source of YouTube content, ACTEW, brings us construction porn from the Cotter Dam expansion for October.
Enjoy.

This gives a pretty interesting insight into the creativity of the people working on the new Cotter Dam, or at least the new walking trail and lookout platform over the work.

[ 18 September, 2010; 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] ACTEW’s announced you too can get up and have a look at the monster Cotter Dam expansion program.

Enjoy a day out at the Cotter, wander the new boardwalk along the river and grab a front row seat on the new amphitheatre style viewing platform to watch the live action at the Cotter Dam worksite. [...]

[First filed: Jun 26, 2010 @ 19:14]

ACTEW have kindly YouTubed June’s progress on the immense Cotter Damn enlargement.
One for the engineering nerds.

ACTEW have proudly announced their partnership with the University of Canberra to make houses for the Macquarie Perch in the soon to be enlarged Cotter Dam.
The ‘constructed homes’ project will provide new shelter for the fish once the reservoir is enlarged. The Macquarie Perch’s current daytime shelter – reed beds at the shore of the [...]

The ABC is reporting that the Cotter recreational area has been closed to the public to allow for the Cotter Dam expansion.
It is not expected to open again until late 2011 although the nearby Casuarina Sands parkland has been upgraded to provide an alternative recreational area.
Who knows, maybe we’ll get a new Cotter Pub?

A couple nights ago I was kicking back with a beer infront of the TV when the latest ActewAGL ad came on. I spluttered beer across the living room as they declared the Cotter Dam expansion has started. They then declared the surveys and planning was progressing well – ROFL!
Today it seems I am to [...]

It’s Thursday’s news, but it bears repeating.
Peter Garrett has announced his approval of the gargantuan cotter dam expansion project.
“This is a good outcome—it provides water security for the Canberra region and at the same time the stringent conditions I have imposed will ensure that threatened species will be properly protected.” Minister Garrett said.
“The species of [...]

ACTEW have announced that they’re lodging a Development Application (DA) to pretty up the much loved Casuarina Sands swimming area:
The DA provides information on the proposed works, including improvements to parking, upgraded facilities and additional shade, BBQs and picnic tables.
ACTEW will be undertaking a community presentation to brief the public on the proposed works at [...]

Be you ever so nutty ACTEW wants to hear from you this week.
They’re finalising their consultation on the Cotter Dam expansion this week and calling for everyone to come forward and have their say. If only because it will save trouble later to get maximum exposure for the issue now.
Submissions can to be made in [...]

The Canberra Times is having a fret over the dangers to Canberra’s ute driving classes should pesky planning controls delay the Cotter Dam expansion.
Chamber of Commerce boss Chris Peters says that with major construction work winding up in the Territory pesky community consultation and environmental concerns must be thrown to the wind in order to [...]