Overview

Snowy 2.0 is a proposed pumped-hydro expansion of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, operated by dynamic energy company Snowy Hydro. The expansion will significantly add to the Scheme’s existing energy generation and large-scale storage capabilities, securing system stability at times of peak demand.

The Snowy 2.0 Geotechnical Investigation has to date delivered over 21 km of borehole drilling from 40 boreholes of up to 1.1km in depth. GHD have worked closely with SHL and the owners team during the reference design development, working iteratively and feeding the design team geological and geotechnical data to inform decisions on the placement and location of key structures. Working in pristine and remote Kosciusko National Park meant the project had logistical challenges to resolve to gather high quality information from remote locations, using helicopters, barges and all terrain vehicles to maximise accessibly and minimise disturbance to the highly sensitive environment.

Co-hosted by the Victorian Civil College and the Australian Tunneling Society, this seminar will provide an overview of the project, including the specific constructions associated with a large-scale pumped-hydro station in order to ensure extensive generation and storage of energy.

Discussion will include the investigation scope, direction drilling targeting key features from fixed surface locations, execution of insitu stress and permeability testing, a comparison of structural data acquisition from core orientation and downhole geophysics and the surface geophysical seismic refraction and reflection programme.

Speakers

Dave Evans: Director of Engineering, Snowy 2.0

Dave Evans is the Director of Engineering on Snowy 2.0 and has been working on the project since its inception in April 2017. Prior to joining Snowy 2.0, Dave was the Australia New Zealand Hydropower and Dams Manager at SMEC and has been involved as a designer and expert review in international hydropower projects in Australia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Kenya.

Damon Miller: Associate Engineer, Dams & Hydro, SMEC

Damon Miller has worked on Snowy 2.0 since the project commenced with SMEC and Snowy Hydro in April 2017. Damon was the Design Manager for the Snowy 2.0 Feasibility Study and has been the Civil Design Lead for the Reference Design and Tendering for the 2000 MW pumped storage hydropower project.

Helen Barbour-Bourne: Associate Engineering Geologist, GHD Sydney

Helen Barbour-Bourne is an Associate Engineering Geologist with GHD Sydney with a strong background in Project Managing and delivery of large scale complex and specialised site investigations from overseas projects at London Olympics 2012 and Crossrail, to Oxley Highway to Kempsey and Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific Highway Investigations. She has been Project Manager for the Snowy 2.0 Geotechnical Investigation Project since October 2017, drawing together a specialist and skilled team of up to 80 people on site from across Australia, New Zealand and Canada to deliver this amazing and challenging project.

Daniel Kamphorst: Site Investigation Manager, Snowy 2.0

Daniel Kamphorst is a Geotechnical Engineer, responsible for managing the Snowy 2.0 Geotechnical Investigation program on site since October 2017, more recently become the Site Investigation Manager. With a strong focus on highly specialised geological and geotechnical field work, from PNG, and across Australia. He has been critical to the execution of the complex scope required by the investigation which  includes three methods of insitu stress testing, down hole geophysical logging and deep directional drilling, essential to the delivery of the project.