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Presentation - Environmental Impact Assessment of the Olympic Dam Desalination Plant Return Water Release
02-Nov-2011
American Society of Civil Engineers - Australian Section
Brisbane Spring Lecture Presented by Dr Daniel A. Botelho
The Olympic Dam Expansion Project in South Australia is a resource development of national importance. Olympic Dam is a multimineral ore body producing copper, gold, silver and uranium. With the expansion project, BHP Billiton is seeking to create one of the world’s largest open pit mines, with the potential to increase copper production from around 180,000 tonnes per annum to 750,000 tonnes per annum. In the past few years this proposal has attracted considerable attention from government and environmental stakeholder groups, particularly the potential impacts, to Upper Spencer Gulf, of the brine discharge from the proposed desalination plant near Whyalla.
In recent weeks the State and Federal governments have issued environmental approvals for the project. Engineers seeking first hand knowledge on this important issue should not miss this very topical lecture.
The presentation will describe the work undertaken by Daniel and his colleagues at BMT WBM - Michael Barry, Greg Collecutt, and Tony McAlister - on behalf of BHP Billiton, as part of the recently approved Olympic Dam Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate this discharge. Particular emphasis will be given to the environmental concerns associated with the desalination plant discharge and the advanced methods and technologies employed to determine the dynamics and footprint of the brine plume associated with the discharge.
Date: Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Time: 12.30 pm for 1.00pm
Venue: Bleeding Heart Gallery School of Arts Building
166 Ann Street Brisbane
Light luncheon refreshments will be served
This is a Free Lecture
RSVP: Please register via asce.qld@gmail.com to assist with seating and catering
Daniel Botelho is a civil and environmental engineer with 15 years research and consulting experience in the water quality of rivers, lakes and marine environments. Daniel is a Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is affiliated with the Society’s Environmental & Water Resources Institute. Daniel is a senior engineer with the consulting practice BMT WBM Pty Ltd and has contributed to a range of water quality assessments both in Australia and overseas. His principal interests are the interaction between the physical environment and anthropogenic influences on the aquatic ecology and water quality of natural systems, and the development and application of hydrodynamic and water quality models.