Peter Jean March 27, 2012
The Cotter Dam today. Still from Actew's Dam Cam.
The cost of the new Cotter Dam blew out by $33.5 million to almost $397 million before the recent floods, the ACT Government has revealed.
ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr told the Assembly today that Actew Corporation was still determining how much further the cost would increase as a result of the flooding, which swamped the construction site.
Mr Barr said rain was primarily responsible for the increase of the project’s cost from $363 million.
“It was simply not possible to control or predict the extent of the rainfall and flooding that has occurred over the past two years,’’ he said.
“In 2009 the amount of rain that fell in the ACT was 75 per cent of the long-term average.’’
“In 2010 and 2011 the figures were 160 per cent and 140 per cent respectively. Clearly 2010 and 2011 were two of the highest years of rainfall on record.’’
The location of a geological fault after drilling began for the main wall also caused problems.
Mr Barr said information on the revised cost and timeline for the dam project would be issued as soon as it became available.
“Obviously Mr Speaker the latest flood will add further time and cost to the project which will not be known for several weeks,’’ he said.