Provide Dams Safety NSW with a declaration of competency

The Dams Safety Regulation 2019 requires that ‘competent persons’ perform the following tasks for declared dams:

• Consequence category assessments (clause 7 of the regulation)
• Consequence category assessment reviews (clause 7.4 of the regulation)
• Risk reports and reviews of risk reports (clause 15 of the regulation)
• Safety reviews and reviews of safety reviews (clause 20 of the regulation)
• Dam design reviews (clause 24 of the regulation)

For extreme, high A and high B consequence category dams a team/panel of at least 2 competent persons must undertake safety reviews, independently review safety reviews, and independently review work involving dam designs. The competent persons must together have the training, qualification and experience in each relevant speciality for the work.

It is important that dam owners, or the person(s) completing these works, complete a signed declaration that states they are a ‘competent person’ for these tasks. Each competent person involved in the work should be listed in the declaration.

Dam owners should also provide the signed declaration when required to submit completed report/s to Dams Safety NSW.

Read our fact sheet to find out more about what to consider when choosing a consultant to help prepare your dam safety reports.