Dams experts to discuss water supply challenges at ANCOLD conference

15 October 2014 - Aurecon dams specialists Peter Blersch and Luke Toombes will be presenting papers at the ANCOLD (Australian National Committee on Large Dams) conference on 21-22 October 2014 in Canberra.

“Providing a clean, sustainable water supply is one of the most challenging issues facing countries and regions worldwide,” said Dams Leader Peter Blersch.

Themed ‘dams in a changing world’, the conference will look at how governments and industry can overcome the social, political and environmental challenges of owning, maintaining and managing dams.

• 14.20 – 14.40: Tuesday 21 October 2014
  Holistic dam operations assessment for South East Queensland
  Luke Toombes, Senior Civil Engineer, Water Services, Aurecon
  
  
• 16.20 – 16.40: Tuesday 21 October 2014
  Voëlvlei Dam - a reservoir in flux
  Peter Blersch, Dams Leader, Aurecon

Aurecon’s dam engineering experience includes major projects such as the Berg River Dam in South Africa and the Kashimbila Dam and Hydropower Station in Nigeria, as well as the Moogerah Dam spillway upgrade in Australia where Aurecon undertook geotechnical investigations and design in association with Entura.

With more than 75 years of experience in the planning, design, construction monitoring and asset management of dams, reservoirs and bulk water conveyance systems, Aurecon provides a whole of life service to clients.

About Peter Blersch

Peter Blersch is Aurecon’s Bulk Dams Leader. He has almost 30 years’ experience in the planning, design and construction of dams and related infrastructure. After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch and a six year stint with the South African Department of Water Affairs, he joined Ninham Shand in Cape Town. He spent a memorable three years in Lesotho on the construction of the 185m high Katse Dam, ran the Kwazulu Natal office of Ninham Shand for a few years and moved to Pretoria in 2001, where he headed the Heavy Engineering Division of Ninham Shand, subsequently becoming part of the merger that created Aurecon in 2009.

About Luke Toombes

Luke is a senior member of Aurecon's Water Group with over ten years of experience in the water engineering industry, in addition to university lecturing and research. He has a strong background in fluid mechanics and hydraulics, with expertise in detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and design, specialising in open channel flow and hydraulic structures.