“A Tale of Two Dams” Thorndon Park & Hope Valley

Andy Parsons, Richard Cavagnaro, and Geoff Gosden

Thorndon Park and Hope Valley Dams were the first and second water supply dams constructed for the City of Adelaide circa 1860 and 1870, respectively. Both dams were constructed in a rural environment without provision to prevent internal erosion (piping) type failures. Thorndon Park is currently part of a City of Campbelltown recreation park and Hope Valley is still part of the SA Water supply network. As the end of the twentieth century approached, both dams had reached their used-by date and were in need of rehabilitation. Andy Parsons first discussed the current state-of-the-art of dam safety evaluation technology and regulations in general terms applicable to all dams. Richard Cavagnaro then described the history and condition of Thorndon Park Dam and as it existed in late 2000, the incident of February 2001 and subsequent draining of the reservoir. Geoff Gosden described the design and construction of the recently completed rehabilitation of the Hope Valley Dam.

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