Comprehensive surveillance reviews for a large dams portfolio

Client: Hydro Tasmania
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Date: 2025-26

Supporting Hydro Tasmania’s dam safety program with robust risk-based comprehensive surveillance reviews across key dams

Background

Entura is currently undertaking comprehensive surveillance reviews (CSRs) for Hydro Tasmania as part of the FY25/26 CSR program. These reviews continue a long history of Entura delivering programs of intermediate inspections, comprehensive surveillance reviews and detailed dam safety reviews for Hydro Tasmania over many years.

In the FY25/26 program, our dams specialists are conducting CSRs for Binney Dam, Bradys Dam, Darwin Dam, Dee Dam, Miena Dam, Parangana Dam, and Scotts Peak Dam, which span a range of dam types, sizes and consequence categories. We conduct this work in accordance with the ANCOLD Guidelines on Dam Safety Management (2003), the Tasmanian Government Water Management (Safety of Dams) Regulations 2025, The NRE Tasmania CSR Guidelines, and Hydro Tasmania’s Comprehensive Surveillance Reviews – General Specification (2025).

The program supports Hydro Tasmania’s ongoing commitment to understand the condition of its dam portfolio, maintaining high levels of dam safety and compliance with modern standards and requirements.

Solution

Entura is undertaking comprehensive on-site inspections of all structures at the 7 dams, including mechanical assessments where required, such as the outlet control structures and radial gate at Miena Dam.

Throughout the program, Entura is preparing updated dam documentation including revised mud maps, dam history statements and instrumentation drawings for applicable dams.

For each CSR, Entura is documenting a complete assessment of dam performance, consolidating findings and providing updated risk-based recommendations for Hydro Tasmania to incorporate into its dam safety database.

This includes:

• describing physical dam details
• evaluating the dam’s structural performance
• assessing flood-handling capability in line with up-to-date climate projections
• reviewing the dam’s consequence category.

Entura is also assessing each dam’s risk position, including:

• analysing operational and surveillance data since the previous inspection
• reviewing operations and maintenance practices
• assessing the adequacy of the dam safety monitoring program.

Entura works closely with Hydro Tasmania throughout the program to ensure alignment with our client’s standards and expectations. This includes presenting at Hydro Tasmania’s risk-based surveillance (RBS) workshop for all dams under review to confirm priorities and insights arising from the CSR process.

Outcome

Entura’s delivery of the CSR program is providing Hydro Tasmania with a current and detailed understanding of 7 key dams’ condition, behaviour, safety performance and compliance with regulatory requirements.

The systematic updates to documentation, performance assessments and recommendations will help Hydro Tasmania maintain high standards of risk management and long-term asset stewardship across the portfolio.

Services

• Comprehensive inspections for 7 dams
• Structural and operational performance assessment
• Updated recommendations and safety findings
• Revised dam documentation and instrumentation drawings
• Risk-based surveillance workshop participation