MEDIA RELEASE Hume Dam work brought forward 7 October l996 The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is to accelerate work on the next stage of its planned remedial works at Hume Dam near Albury. Announcing this today, the General Manager of Water Business for the MDBC, David Dole said the work would be carried out on the main embankment and the concrete training wall adjacent to the spillway. Mr Dole said the decision to bring the project forward following expert technical advice from within Australia and overseas that a short section of the embankment requires strengthening. The work is part of an on-going construction program being undertaken by the NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation at Hume Dam on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Mr Dole said that during recent grouting operations to improve water sealing between the embankment and the concrete spillway there was 5 millimetre movement of the core wall. "Although there is no immediate threat to the overall safety of the Dam, this movement has indicated that the margins of reserve strength in the embankment are inadequate. "It has been decided to bring forward the planned works to more quickly increase the margin of safety for the Dam," Mr Dole said. "As an extra precaution, the level of water in the Dam will be lowered by 5 metres," he said. "It is planned to lower the level of the Dam by 2 metres over the next two weeks and progressively reduce the height to 5 metres below capacity before the end of this year. Mr Dole said that although the releases were not related to the current flooding, there was likely to be some prolonging of the present flooding along the river between Hume Darn and Lake Mulwala. The releases also could result in some short term reductions in water allocations in the future. "Lowering the water level in Hume Dam and accelerating the remedial works is precaution that the MDBC believes is fully justified in the interest of public safety," Mr Dole said, adding that emergency management procedures will be developed with the State authorities to minimise downstream impacts. He said slight movement in structures of this type and age was not uncommon and the current situation at Hume was not a cause for alarm. "In the interest of public safety and for the future security of water supplies it is important that any potential safety issue is addressed immediately and the structure is brought into line with current world standards," Mr Dole said. He said monitoring of the Dam wall and the embankment had been increased and investigations were continuing. Mr Dole said meetings would be held with the community to help develop strategies dealing with any downstream impacts. An information telephone line on 1800 630 l 14 also will be in operation to keep the public informed. For further information contact: Alan Reid Michelle Cowan Media Liaison Officer Liaison Officer Murray Darling Basin Commission Hume Dam Phone: (06) 279 0139 Phone: (060) 26 4320 Mobile: (015) 269149 Mobile: 0419 588 332