The Panel’s first presentation for 2015 is titled “Use of Pre-Releasing for Flood Management: Best Practices at Leading Dam Owners around the World” and will be given by Dr Amit Chanan.

30th April 2015
5.30 for 6pm Start

Engineers Australia Auditorium
Ground Floor, 8 Thomas St,
Chatswood NSW 2067

Pre-registration is mandatory and while the event is free for Engineers Australia members, non-members entry is $30.

Abstract

Pre-releasing is a dam operating methodology that involves releasing water prior to an expected flood event to create airspace within the dam. The airspace is created with the aim to capture the first of the floodwaters. The presentation compares flood operating procedures for major gated dams at leading dam owners in the USA, Canada, and UK, particularly focusing the role of ‘pre-releasing’ during floods.

The millennium drought was broken in the South-Eastern Australia by major floods in December 2010, followed by another significant wet season in March 2012. This period saw major flooding in the cities of Brisbane, Wagga Wagga and parts of Victoria.

Operation of dams during these floods came under heavy media scrutiny. In case of Brisbane a Commission of Inquiry investigated the operations of Wivenhoe Dam. Similarly, a Ministerial review looked at operations of Burrinjuck and Blowering dams in relation to flooding at Wagga Wagga. Victorian Government also commissioned a review of floods in that state.

Biography

Dr Amit Chanan is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney. His professional career spreads over two decades within the water industry, including senior executive roles within the NSW State Government and local government. Amit is a Fellow of Engineering Australia. He is the Vice Chair of the International Water Association’s Specialist Group on Water Security and Safety Management. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of UK’s Institute of Civil Engineers’ Journal of Municipal Engineering.

In 2013, Amit was awarded with the 2013 Churchill Fellowship to study flood operations at dams in USA, Canada and Europe with particular reference to ‘pre- releasing’ of dams during flood.

Printable Flyer

A printable PDF flyer is available.