News location:

Canberra Today 15°/18° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Cotter spills: The million dollar drench

THE new, unfinished Cotter Dam has remained “structurally sound”, despite its breach last night according to ACTEW managing director Mark Sullivan.

The flooding water is expected to affect work on the dam for a week, which is going to cost more than $1 million in lost time.

As predicted, water spilled over the dam wall about 7.15pm last night following days of heavy rain in the region.   Earlier this morning, Mr Sullivan wrote on Twitter: “Our first reports are the dam remained structurally sound. Heavy machinery fine. A lot of minor damage. Biggest worry earthworks down river”.

The dam currently sits at 40 metres in height, once complete it will be 80 metres tall.

Yesterday, Mr Sullivan told “CityNews”:  “Every day we don’t work up there it’s costing us $150,000, and that’s without damage costs,” he said.

“It will probably take us at least a week before we start work on the site again…

“But when this is about nature; we just do everything we can to keep things safe and secure.”

[portfolio_slideshow]

READ MORE: “CityNews” spoke to ACTEW managing director Mark Sullivan ‘Dam safe, despite breach says ACTEW chief’

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews