Project Description
Paradise Dam is located approximately 80 kilometres southwest of Bundaberg in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland, Australia.
Designed and constructed by Burnett Dam Alliance between 2003 and 2005, the 300,000 megalitre dam is operated by Queensland government-owned corporation and bulk water provider, Sunwater.
As part of this program, core samples of the dam’s concrete were put through a range of climatic and in-situ conditions to understand how the concrete may perform over time.
Trilab’s team conducted extensive shear strength testing of concrete samples from the dam wall.
Trilab also conducted other testing designed to artificially degrade the roller compacted concrete within the dam under accelerated conditions.
Through this testing, three unexpected new issues regarding the long-term strength and quality of the dam’s concrete were identified. These involved swelling clay, cement leaching and carbonation within dam’s concrete.
The test results combined with analysis by concrete and materials experts, found the dam’s concrete will lose strength over time and that no amount of improvement work will fix the structure.
Following a January 2024 announcement by the Queensland Government, Sunwater is now progressing planning for a new dam immediately downstream.
For more information on the Paradise Dam Improvement Project, visit Sunwater’s website:
