SERVICES PROVIDED
- Geotechnical and tunnel rehabilitation
- Hydrogeology
- Engineering technical due diligence
- Risk assessments
- Contaminated site assessments
- Slope stabilization
- Bush fire management
Over the past decade, URS has completed several projects for the world-famous Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme in New South Wales, Australia. The scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex that includes 16 major dams, 7 power stations, 145 kilometers of tunnel, and 80 kilometers of aqueducts. It has a total generating capacity of 3,756 megawatts and is one of the most complex, integrated water and power schemes in the world.
URS first began work on an aqueduct stabilization project for the scheme in 1999. The Company provided geotechnical investigations, risk assessment and review, engineering, geology, hydrogeology, design, contract preparation and site supervision services for the Geehi aqueduct.
In 2001, URS was part of a team selected to conduct a comprehensive technical due diligence evaluation of the hydroelectric scheme. URS’ role was to undertake studies of the dams, water conveyance tunnels and aqueducts. The work comprised inspection of the main infrastructure; an extensive review of background information including design and construction reports, surveillance and monitoring reports, and maintenance records; discussions with management and operations personnel; and preparation of working reports for the dams and the conveyance infrastructure from which the final due diligence report was prepared. Also during that year, URS prepared designs and supervised tunnel stabilization works for 600 meters of tunnels at the scheme.
The Company was also involved in several tunnel maintenance review and rehabilitation projects from 2001 through 2003, for which URS conducted detailed design, tender preparation, assessment and site supervision. Additional work in 2003 and 2004 at the hydroelectric scheme included developing a program of investigating and monitoring spoil from construction activities in the 1960s and development of an environmental and safety management plan for construction works at the Jindabyne Dam. Today, URS continues to provide engineering and environmental expertise to the snowy mountains region across a diverse range of projects.