Melbourne-based company Geotech Pty Ltd has been awarded $10.4 million to complete the project, which will take 12-18 months.

Orange mayor John Davis said the company had a lot of experience in construction at water storage dams, having recently been involved with the air curtain project at Burrendong Dam. 

“The Orange community has been waiting for this project for many years and I’m delighted it’s now reached this stage and that work can begin in the coming months,” he said.

The total cost of the project is $19 million - some of the $8.6 million not included in the construction tender has been spent on the design, with the rest to cover project supervision.

Minister for Water Kevin Humphries will need to sign off on the contract before construction can proceed and the state government will cover up to $3.8 million of the project cost. 

Member for Orange Andrew Gee welcomed the announcement. 

“It’s still subject to approval, but raising the dam wall is a vital part of securing Orange’s water supply and the city’s future growth, so it’s tremendous to see things progressing so well,” he said.

Work will include raising the spillway by one metre and the adjacent dam walls by three metres to increase water capacity by 10 per cent, strengthening the dam wall and rebuilding the western auxiliary spillway to release water in a controlled way in the event of a one in 500-year flood.

The dam’s outlet tower will be refitted so valves releasing water to the water treatment works can be operated automatically. 

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au