ACTEW Water’s Enlarged Cotter Dam project has received two national sustainability awards at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia Awards in Queensland overnight.

The Cotter sustainability program won both the Sustainable Infrastructure Category and the Overall Winner Award.

In addition to securing the Canberra region’s water for generations to come, the massive construction project also achieved the following:

• A 7km artificial rock-reef in the dam to ensure the survival of the last viable population of endangered Macquarie Perch in the ACT;

• And two world-firsts in infrastructure design – development of an aeration step in the primary spillway; and use of a paver for roller-compacted-concrete replacement, which at 87m high is the tallest roller-compacted-concrete dam in Australia.

• Development of heritage and community areas with the Discovery Trail and upgraded Cotter Precinct; and

• Employed more than 3,000 workers, providing more than 2.5 million people hours on the job which averaged 212 people on site per day across the project contributing to the local economy;

Kirilly Dickson, Manager Safety and Environment at ACTEW Water said that she was delighted that the various achievements of the Cotter Dam project had been had been recognised in this way.