The City of Ballarat has awarded the detailed design tender for the reconstruction of the Gong Reservoir Dam Wall at Buninyong.
Engineering experts JJ Ryan Consulting have been awarded the detailed design and construction tender documentation for the reconstruction project that will improve the dam wall's structural integrity to preserve the historic water facility while mitigating the risk of flooding to the community.
The Gong Dam Wall was constructed in circa 1860. It does not meet modern safety standards with the leaking wall identified as a public safety risk.
Wall failure could mean flooding downstream, impacting the Buninyong Botanic Gardens, the bowling club, lower areas of the primary school and private residences. An independent risk assessment recommended the City of Ballarat 'take measures to reduce the overall risk'.
In 2023, Ballarat City Council voted to adopt the Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan which included progressing the design and reconstruction of the Gong Reservoir wall.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the contract marked an important milestone in the project.
"Awarding the design tender to a firm with specialist dam engineering expertise puts safety and innovation at the heart of this project," she said.
"The Gong is a much-loved part of Buninyong and these works will ensure it continues to thrive for future generations."
Once the design works have been completed, a separate tender for the reconstruction of the wall works will be advertised.
The City of Ballarat will work with nearby residents and community members as the project progresses.
The project will also enable the controlled discharge of water seepage into the garden ponds.
A landscaping design response to the works includes re-use and redevelopment of the stone retaining wall, at the base of the wall on the gardens' side, planting of suitable species, new garden beds with low growing plants, fencing and bollards.
It also includes a boardwalk for access to the Gong Reservoir and new paths and crossing points for pedestrians.
The Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan was informed through extensive community consultation and stakeholder engagement in 2021 and early 2022, including both a pre-engagement and a draft engagement landscape masterplan phase.
