World class water lab opens
The new-look Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) has been officially opened today after a $10.5 million state-of-the-art revamp which has tripled its modelling and testing capabilities.
The Department of Planning and Environment’s Deputy Secretary of Water, Amanda Jones, said the new lab, funded by the NSW Government, will play a major role in the state’s water future, helping to rigorously test the safety of existing infrastructure and designs of major new projects, creating models to manage risks during flood events and even developing schemes to mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion.
“Manly Hydraulics Laboratory staff are leaders in water modelling and hydrometric monitoring and this new facility will ensure they can continue building this capability and providing independent expertise,” Ms Jones said.
“The lab is equipped with the high-tech equipment they need to continue providing the best advice on everything from design safety for dams and weirs, flood mitigation, fishways, beach protection and more.”
The project has delivered three world class model reservoirs that can recreate flows greater than 2,200 litres per second with expansion capability of up to 4,300 litres per second. This is equivalent to turning on more than 6,500 fire hoses at once.
“For nearly 80 years MHL has provided vital modelling for historic projects like Warragamba Dam, the Sydney deep water ocean outfalls and the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme,” Ms Jones said.
“The new lab is also embracing Indigenous culture featuring artwork by local artists along with a yarning circle that will be used frequently by staff and when professional and student groups visit.”
MHL Director Edward Couriel said it will allow them to replicate highly complex scenarios to reflect a range of unique environments for potential projects to test their viability including droughts, coastal storms and floods.
“Using scaled models, we can confidently see how potential future water infrastructure will operate in a range of weather and flow conditions, testing their safety before projects begin construction, which can save lives and millions of dollars,” Mr Couriel said.
“This is the first major upgrade for our lab in almost 30 years, so we are excited to make use of the larger, more modern facilities to trial solutions for a vast array of water challenges for both public and private entities across Australia and the globe.”
For more information visit Manly Hydraulics.
