CONSTRUCTION

What’s involved during Construction?

Access                                                                                                                                                                                     Entry to the dam from Advancetown and Gilston road will cease until 2010.

Environmental Management
Minimising impacts on the environment is a priority for the Hinze Dam Stage 3 project. All project activities will be covered by an Environmental Management Plan in accordance with Queensland and Australian government legislation.

Managing Construction
Monitoring surveys for dust, noise and vibration have been implemented to ensure construction methods are conducted in accordance with relevant legislative and Australian standards.

Traffic Management

• residents in greater Nerang and on Advancetown Road may notice an increase in the number of truck movements during construction
• the Advancetown Road entrance will be the primary access road for vehicles moving to site (Gilston Road is more difficult for large vehicles to use)
• heavy vehicles including scrapers, excavators and trucks will be brought in for quarrying and other construction activities from late 2007

Building Condition Surveys

• as a precautionary measure, structural condition surveys were undertaken to assess and record pre-blast conditions for properties within one kilometre of blasting activity, this offer was also extended by request to residents and business owners outside the one kilometre radius up to two kilometres from the construction zone
• all blasting is undertaken within strict controls to limit vibrations
• all blasting is confined to the construction zone
• any structural changes reported during/post blasting will be compared to the pre-blasting property assessments

Dust Monitoring

• the project team aims to suppress impacts of dust particles on construction site, neighbouring residents and the surrounding environment
• dust levels will be measured prior to construction using an air sampler
• normal dust levels are being compared to emissions through-out construction to ensure that dust is kept to a minimum
   

Noise Monitoring

• all noise levels during construction will be maintained within legislative limits
• noise levels were measured prior to construction and ongoing noise monitoring is in place
• the results from noise surveys are compared to pre-determined noise level goals

Blasting

• blasting activities are confined to the Hinze Dam construction zone. Resident’s in the immediate area will be informed prior to the commencement of blasting
• blasting activity will result in noise and air shock (air shock is an air blast that may result in ground vibration, similar to what is felt when lightning strikes nearby)
• vibration monitoring is in place during construction to ensure that it remains within acceptable levels

The blasting process: