Dams

Dams engineering and compliance

Practical dam safety, inspection and engineering support for asset owners across Australia.

Overview
Overview
What we do
Our approach
Industry credentials
Our team
FAQs

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20+ years
supporting dam and levee assets
50+ dams
basins and levees inspected or assessed
Low to high
consequence dams supported
Supporting Australia’s dams, basins and levees

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 many 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, experienced 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.

Consequence category reassessment and dam break assessments
Detention basin, service pond and evaporation pond design
Earth embankment assessment, materials specification and remediation
Intermediate and comprehensive dam safety inspections informed by ANCOLD and applicable state regulations
Levee surveillance, assessment and remedial works
Long‑term surveillance programs, condition assessment and regulator engagement
Spillway assessment and redesign including hydraulic assessment, freeboard checks, scour protection and constructability review
Our approach

How we support your dams

Navigating dam safety compliance

Navigating dam safety compliance

We help asset owners interpret and apply ANCOLD guidelines in a way that is well reasoned, proportionate and practical. Our experience across inspections, consequence reassessments and regulator engagement allows us to identify risk based solutions that may help avoid unnecessary long-term compliance cost and effort.
Industry credentials

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

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

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.

Our team

Get in touch with our team

Rob Casimaty
Capability Leader - Water, Senior Principal Engineer

Petro Weyers
Dam Engineering Geologist

FAQs

Your questions answered

What does a dam safety inspection involve?

Do small dams need to comply with ANCOLD guidelines?

When does a detention basin require dam safety compliance?

Can dam consequence categories be reviewed or reduced?

Get in touch about your dam project