Milford Planning have been appointed by multidisciplinary engineering company SMEC to provide the land tenure components of the $2.2 million Hells Gates Dam Feasibility Study.
Townsville Enterprise, as project manager for the 12-month project, engaged SMEC in May 2017 to lead a detailed feasibility study into the proposed Hells Gates Dam after receiving funding from the Federal Government under the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF). The feasibility study aims to consolidate existing research undertaken for the project, and to expand the scope and analysis to determine if the proposed dam is feasible in terms of the engineering, economic and environmental aspects.
Hells Gates is located on the upper Burdekin River, approximately 120 kilometres north west of Townsville. The construction of the proposed Hells Gates Dam would be primarily for the purpose of providing a water supply for large-scale agricultural development. The project would expand the agricultural capabilities of the Townsville region, and would unlock a significant amount of arable land for use by the agricultural sector. Although the project’s primary focus is on agricultural water supply, the potential for the dam to provide an urban water supply will also be investigated. Hells Gates is currently considered to be the most suitable site for the proposed dam given its ability to achieve lower operating costs through gravity fed irrigation, however the study will also include other potential sites for comparison.
Milford Planning’s input to the feasibility study includes undertaking a high-level assessment of the land tenure associated with the proposed dam and inundation areas, as well as the suitable agricultural land that will benefit from the resultant water supply. Following identification of relevant tenure, advice regarding the high-level impediments and risks associated with the project, in addition to recommended risk management actions, will be prepared for inclusion in the final feasibility study.
Milford Planning are pleased to be involved in a project that has the potential to contribute to the water security of Townsville in the future. The final feasibility study is scheduled to be completed and submitted to Townsville Enterprise by March 2018.