View of completed pump station from embankment.

External view of eastern side of pump station, showing building works complete, pipe work installed and access road base layer..

Pump station pumps and pipe work installed in pump room ready for testing.

Pipeline manifold now connected to pump room pipe work and partially buried.

Pipeline manifold being lowered by crane to be connected to pipework from pump room.

View of exterior wall of pump room (western side) showing pipework in wall thrust blocks.

View of pipework installed through wall thrust blocks on either side of pump room.

Internal view of pump room showing progress of pump and pipework fitouts.

Internal view of pump room showing progress of pump and pipework fitouts.

View of the pump station, western side

View of the Pump Station (eastern side) from the embankment. Most major building works are now complete. Work can now be focused on installing the pumps and pipework and the electrical components.

View of the pump station looking south. This shows the electrical room and amenities block in the foreground, with the Pump Room behind.

View of the Western exterior wall of the pump room, showing thrust blocks for pipework.

Internal view on the pump room (looking south).

Internal view of the pump room (looking north) plinths for pipe work have been poured and electrical works are being installed for power and lighting.

View of the pump station from the Spillway area.

Brickwork and roof works have extended to the pump room now that the thrust blocks and plinths for the pipework have all been formed and poured.

Once the internal brickwork had been completed, external brickworks could commence. The colour and style of the external bricks has been selected due to it’s similarity in appearance to the natural rock and sandstone in the area. This scheme will be used throughout the facility, including the public amenity areas and the entrance gate.

With the internal brickwork well underway works could commence on the roof section of the electrical room and amenities area. This section would consist of a workshop / boat shed, a compressor room, a store room and a staff amenities area, including office space.

With the building framework in place the Demag crane could be installed. This crane can lift up to 5 tonne and is to be used in the moving of pipework and pumps both during construction and once the facility is operational. It can also be noted that the internal brickwork and electrical conduits has commenced.

Now that the main foundation concrete works have been carried out, the structural steel framework can commence.

The basement of the pump station has now been buried and the floor slab for the ground level section has been completed.

Pump station “Trussdek” formwork which will be covered with concrete. This will serve as the roof for the basement and floor in the electrical room.

Pump station basement floor with walls. This area will be underground once the pump station is complete.

Placing of steel reinforcing for foundation slab of pump station

Concrete workers laying blinding concrete for the pump station

Concrete workers laying blinding concrete for the pump station basement slab to be constructed on top of. The basement is a small area approx 1m deep which will house cabling for the electrical equipment that runs the pumps.

Piling foundations for pump station.

Piling machine drilling into the ground for foundations of the pump station.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Views of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall.

Image date: 18th September 2007

View looking north from the spillway construction at Shannon Creek Storage, towards the site compound and offices. The access road cutting through the eastern escarpment at Shannon Creek can be seen in the background of the photo. By mid September 2007 Leighton Contractors had completed excavation to the first 14m bench of the spillway; when completed, the western face of the spillway will be 44m high with 3 benches and the base of the spillway channel will be 14.5m wide.

Image date: 7th September 2007

View of Shannon Creek Storage construction by Leighton Contractors (looking west from the eastern escarpment, along the centreline of the dam wall). When construction is completed a public viewing area will be located at the western end of the dam wall. During construction Clarence Valley Council/North Coast Water offers free guided bus tours on each second Saturday morning to view the construction activities underway at Shannon Creek Storage (bookings are essential - phone 6645007).

Image date: 2nd August 2007

Trackdrills undertaking drilling of grout holes on the centreline of the dam wall. Cement grout is pumped into the holes and provides an impervious barrior below the embankment of the dam. The coffer dam under construction by Leighton Contractors can be seen in the right of the photo.

Image date: 2nd August 2007

Leighton Contractors constructing the dissipator to slow the water discharged from the spillway when the storage is completed and operating

Image date: 11th July 2007

Drill used to presplit holes for the explosive charges to shatter the sandstone rock for removal by excavators and dozers

Image date: 6th February 2007

Shannon Creek valley – view looking south-west over the new storage access road (cutting through the escarpment above Shannon Creek in seen in the foreground), towards the compound area under construction (new site office location), bridge under construction over Shannon Creek, clearing for the dam wall embankment, excavation of the diversion trench, and haul roads in use.

Image date: 10th January 2007

Excavation of the Diversion Trench at Shannon Creek commenced on 25th November 2006 and is progressing well, although wet weather in early January caused some delay. By mid February 2007 the upstream half of the diversion trench had been excavated to its design level and foundation cleaning had begun. The Principal’s geologist is undertaking geological mapping of the trench (approx 30 metres mapped by 23rd Feb 07). The diversion trench will house the concrete encased pipes which will divert Shannon Creek through the construction site during the storage construction phase. Following completion of the construction phase, the same diversion pipes will be used to release small to medium flows from the storage catchment.

Image date: 14th February 2007

View from the eastern escarpment overlooking Shannon Creek, towards the western abutment location for the dam wall – labels identify construction elements currently underway by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited.

Image date: 14th February 2007

View from the eastern escarpment looking south west – labels identify construction elements currently underway by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited.

Image date: 25th January 2007

The 2100mm pipes are to cater for environmental flows into Shannon Creek downstream of the dam and for the release of rain events at the site; the 750mm pipes are spiral welded and will be used for connection to the raw water supply pipelines (common inlet/outlet).

Image date: 25th January 2007

Four 330m long directional drills are being made about 30m below the top of the eastern escarpment (1 for communications, 2 for power, 1 for water pipeline). The directional drilling for the communications conduit, and for one of the two power supply conduits, was completed by the end of January 07. The directional drilling for the four conduits is being undertaken by subcontractor UEA for Leighton Contractors and is expected to be completed by late April 07. The drillers use computer based steering equipment recently imported from USA; as the drilling operation uses up to 90 gallons of water per minute, a water recycling system is in place to cycle the water in a closed loop, and any silt from the drilling operation is captured in ponds on site.

Image date: 23rd January 2007

Construction of haul roads within the storage site commenced in late October 06 and will be completed in February 07. The better quality material from the excavation is being stockpiled for later use in the coffer dam construction, while the remaining material is being used for haul road construction or transported to the waste disposal area in the storage site.

Image date: 23rd January 2007

Leighton Contractors, as part of the Shannon Creek Storage Facility & Associated Works, are constructing the access road into the storage site; this includes upgrading of sections of the existing Shannondale Road and Geregarow Road and construction of a new 4.5km section of road into the storage site off Shannondale Road. Excavation of the cutting through the eastern escarpment, at the western end of the new section of road, is well underway and it is expected that the contractors temporary site offices will be relocated from Geregarow Road to the dam site by late March 07, following establishment of the access road.

Image date: 22nd December 2006

Time lapse photography is being undertaken by Leighton Contractors during the construction of Shannon Creek Storage. This image is a compilation of views taken to the north, west and south, from the eastern escarpment above Shannon Creek on 22nd December 06, and gives an overall picture of work underway at the site just prior to the Christmas-New Year close down period.

Image date: 21st December 2006

Polythene pipes (900mm outside dia; 737mm internal dia) were delivered to site and heat welded into one continuous length ready for installation in the 330m long x 1.1m dia directional drill hole through the eastern escarpment above Shannon Creek storage site.

Image date: 12th December 2006

Excavation of the Diversion Trench at Shannon Creek storage site commenced on the 25th November 06; work is progressing well, despite wet weather encountered during December-January.

Image date: 30th November 2006

Construction of box culvert at Perennial Creek on the new access road into the Shannon Creek Storage site, off Shannondale Road, west of Coutts Crossing village. The access road will be bitumen sealed two lane rural road standard and provide access for construction activities at Shannon Creek, and public access following the completion of the storage construction. Escorted visitor tours to the storage construction are expected to commence in mid 2007.

Image date: 30th November 2006

Mr Wal King, CEO of Leighton Holdings, visited the Leighton Contractors construction site at Shannon Creek on 30th November to see work in progress. The storage construction contract commenced in August 2006 and is scheduled for completion by December 2008

Image date: 29th November 2006

View of construction works underway by Leighton Contractors at Shannon Creek Storage site, looking from the eastern escarpment above Shannon Creek

Image date: 14th November 2006

Excavation work by Leighton Contractors on the access road into Shannon Creek Storage site, following the first presplitting blasting at the site.

Image date: 14th November 2006

Image date: 24th October 2006

Aboriginal monitors checking the initial stripping at Shannon Creek Storage site, prior to construction by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited.

Image date: October 2006

View looking south west over the new access road and Shannon Creek Storage site on Clarence Valley Council's property. Access to the dam site will be via upgraded Geregarow Road and Shannondale Road, and the new access road currently under construction (section of the new access road leading to the dam site is shown in the aerial photo).

Image date: 29th September 2006 & 4th October 2006

Work is progressing on construction of the new access road into the storage site. The new road is located on property owned by Clarence Valley Council (CVC). Access from Coutts Crossing village to the storage site, is via existing Geregarow Road (4.8km) and Shannondale Road to the point where it links with the new 4.5km access road into the storage.

These roads are being upgraded to two lane bitumen rural road standard, by Leighton Contractors, as part of their construction of Shannon Creek Storage & Associated Works. The road upgrade includes construction of a new bridge over Koukandowie Creek, on Geregarow Road.

Image date: 21st September 2006

In September 2006 Leighton Contractors commenced construction of an initial track down the eastern escarpment into the Shannon Creek valley, to enable drilling rigs and other equipment to access the escarpment. The track is on the alignment of the final access road route into the Shannon Creek Storage site.

It is expected that in early October 2006 material will be trucked from the escarpment to Geregarow Road for use in the road upgrade works (upgrading of Geregarow Road and Shannondale Roads, and construction of the new access road into the Shannon Creek Storage site, are part of the Shannon Creek Storage and Associated Works contract being undertaken by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited).

Image date: 14th August 2006 & 6th September 2006

Activities under Contract 0402231 are now underway - work commenced in August 2006 and is expected to be completed December 2008. Leighton Contractors have established a temporary site office at Geregarow Road to facilitate works during the early stages of construction, including the upgrading of Geregarow Road and Shannondale Road and construction of a new access road into the Shannon Creek Storage site, off Shannondale Road. When access is available into the storage site the contractors site office will be re-established at Shannon Creek.

Several hundred interested members of the community attended an information session at Coutts Crossing Community Hall on 26th July, prior to commencement of works. Leighton Contractors have established a tollfree number for community enquiries - 1800 258 885.

Image date: 26th July 2006

Members of the Aboriginal traditional landowners of the Shannon Creek area, Barra:way Wa:jad, conducted a smoking ceremony at the Shannon Creek Storage site, 9km west of Coutts Crossing, on Wednesday 26th July, and asked the spirits to look after the people who will be working on construction of the Shannon Creek Storage and associated works. Barra:way Wa:jad and representatives of Grafton Ngerrie Local Aboriginal Land Council have been actively involved during the development of the Clarence Valley & Coffs Harbour Regional Water Supply Project, as members of the Project's Aboriginal Liaison Committee, assisting the Project's archaeologist with site investigations and also undertaking site monitoring activities.

Construction of the regional water storage facility, access road and power supply sub station, is being undertaken by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited, for Clarence Valley Council. Work commences in August 2006 and is scheduled for completion in late 2008 / early 2009, and is the final stage of the $180 million regional project construction. Filling of the dam is expected to commence in early 2009.