Annual Dams Safety Standards Report

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The Annual Dams Safety Standards Report demonstrates the declared dam owner’s compliance with the dam safety standards set out in the Dams Safety Regulation 2019 (the Regulation).

Every year, declared dam owners must lodge a separate report for each of their declared dams with Dams Safety NSW by 31 March.

The report covers the period 1 January to 31 December of the previous calendar year.

How to submit your Annual Dams Safety Standards Report

Use the online form below to enter information into your Annual Dams Safety Standards Report. Note: you can save your progress and resume at a later time.

Once completed and submitted, you will receive an email with an unsigned pdf copy of your Annual Dams Safety Standards Report. The PDF report then needs to be signed by the dam owner's accountable office holder(s). A digital signature can be used.

Once the report is signed by the correct office holder(s), please email to info@damsafety.nsw.gov.au by 31 March.

Date of report

Section 1 – Declared dam identification details

Dam name and location

Type of dam (If a combination, then consider major type)

Main purpose of dam

Other

Is the dam built on a river, stream or watercourse?

Name of dam owner

ACN number

Name of contact person Regulation, subclause 24A (3)

Position of contact person

Phone number

Email address

Website address (if any)

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Section 2 – Dams safety standards

Consequence category of dam – Regulation, Part 3

The dam consequence category is a rating of potential impacts resulting from a dam failure. It must be assessed:

within 6 months of the dam being declared
at least once every 15 years
after any significant change in the number of people likely to be affected by a dam failure
or if required by Dams Safety NSW. Regulation, subclause 7 (2)

Dam consequence category

For extreme and high consequence dams only

If the consequence category is extreme or high, the consequence category assessment must be reviewed by a competent person who has not been involved in the assessment process. Regulation, subclause 7(4)

Has an independent review been done?

Name of independent reviewer
(must be a competent person)

Why has no independent review been done?

Do you know the date of last consequence category assessment by a competent person? Regulation, subclause 3 (1)

Date of last consequence category assessment

Date next consequence category assessment planned

Has the number of people likely to be affected by a dam failure changed since the last consequence category review?

How was this checked?

Other

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Dam safety management system - Regulation, Part 5

The dam safety management system is a structured approach to manage all foreseeable risks relating to dam failure. It is designed to be used by the dam owner to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the safety of people, property and the environment is not put at risk from the dam. Regulation Part 5, clause 12

Name of individual responsible for ensuring compliance with dam safety management system. Subclause 13 (1A)

Position of individual responsible for ensuring compliance with Dam Safety Management System

Phone number

Email

Documenting the dam safety management system

Is the dam safety management system fully documented?

If no, what percentage of the dam safety management system documentation is complete?

How did you confirm this percentage?

Does the dam safety management system apply to more than one dam?

Implementing the dam safety management system

Is the dam safety management system fully implemented at this dam?

If no, what percentage of the dam safety management system is implemented?

How did you confirm this percentage?

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Dam safety management system review

Since implementing your dam safety management system, have you reviewed it?

Date of last review

Assessment of societal and individual risk rating

The owner of a declared dam (other than a proposed dam) must use the risk management framework, Regulation Part 5, clause 14 to produce a written report on all foreseeable risks to the dam:

at least once every 5 years
when a major change to the dam is proposed, and
when required by Dams Safety NSW. Regulation, clause 15

Is your dam above the safety threshold?

Do you know the date of your last risk report?

Date of last risk report

Individual risk rating of the dam

Societal risk rating of the dam

Date of next planned risk report

Name of competent person and their organisation who signed off the risk report (if risk report commenced after 1 July 2022)

Name of independent competent person and their organisation who reviewed the report (if risk report commenced after 1 July 2022 - for an extreme, high A or high B consequence dam

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For extreme and high consequence dams only

If the dam's consequence category is extreme, high A or high B, the safety review must be reviewed by a panel of at least 2 independent competent persons. Regulation, subclause 20(6)

If Safety Review commenced after 1 July 2022 - names of independent competent reviewers and their organisation

If the dam's consequence category is high C, the safety review must be reviewed by an independent competent person. Regulation, subclause 20(6A)

Name of independent competent reviewer and their organisation

Notification of significant changes to the dam

Before making any significant change to the configuration of the declared dam that may affect the safety of the dam, the dam owner must inform Dams Safety NSW of the proposed change in writing. Regulation, clause 21

Has any significant change to the configuration of the dam been made during the previous calendar year?

Describe the change

Is any significant change to the configuration of the dam planned?

Describe the change and when it is planned?

Other

Date

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Emergency exercises

The declared dam owner must ensure that staff who are involved in the operation of the dam undertake emergency exercises at least once every 3 years. Regulation, clause 22

Have you done a ‘theoretical classroom’ emergency exercise?

Date of last 'theoretical classroom' emergency exercise Regulation, subclause 22(1)

Planned date of next ‘theoretical classroom’ emergency exercise

For extreme or high consequence dams only

The declared dam owner must ensure that staff who are involved in operating the dam undertake practical emergency exercises at least once every 5 years, where possible including relevant agencies identified in the emergency plan. Regulation, subclauses 22 (3) and 22 (4)

Have you done a practical emergency exercise?

Date of last practical emergency exercise

Planned date of next practical emergency exercise

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Design and construction

Do not complete this section unless you are in the design, construction, commissioning, or decommissioning phase

Dam safety management system for design and construction

Does the dam safety management system cover dam design and construction? Regulation, Clause 12(3)

Was the risk management framework used or is it currently being used to prepare a risk report at the dam design stage? Regulation, clause 15(2)

Certain work must be carried out by a person subject to a quality management system Regulation, subclause 23(1)

Have you ensured that design and construction are carried out by a person subject to an AS ISO 9001:2016 quality management system?

Independent competent persons must review work involving dam design Regulation, clause 24

For Extreme and High consequence category dams, provide the name of the independent person(s) and their organisation who reviewed or are reviewing the design Regulation, clause 24

For dams still in an early design phase, have you planned an independent competent person design review?

Section 3 - Additional information for Dams Safety NSW

Date of last Emergency Plan review

Date not known

Date of last Operations and Maintenance Plan review

Date not known

Is last year's Annual Dams Safety Standards Report published on your website?

Provide the link to your report

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Section 4 - Attestation

The Attestation of the information provided in the form must be completed by the dam owner office holder(s):

Dam owner	Attesting office holder(s)
Local council	General Manager
Company	2 directors, or 1 director and 1 company secretary The combined director and company secretary (Where there is only 1 director)
Statutory state- owned corporation	Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director responsible for managing the operation of the statutory state-owned corporation in accordance with the general policies and specific directions of the board
Statutory corporation	Corporation with 2 or more members: President, chairperson or another principal officer of the corporation Sole corporation The person who constituted the constitution The person managing the affairs of the corporation
Government department	Secretary
Individual	Individual

Declared dam owner office holder(s) attesting to the accuracy of this report

Name of declared dam owner office holder attesting to the accuracy of this report:

Position of declared dam owner office holder attesting to the accuracy of this report:

Email

Signature:

Name of declared dam owner office holder attesting to the accuracy of this report:

Position of declared dam owner office holder attesting to the accuracy of this report:

Email

Signature:

How to submit your Annual Dams Safety Standards Report

Consequence category of dam – Regulation, Part 3

For extreme and high consequence dams only

Dam safety management system - Regulation, Part 5

Documenting the dam safety management system

Implementing the dam safety management system

Dam safety management system review

Assessment of societal and individual risk rating

Other safety requirements - Regulation, Part 6

Incident reporting

Safety review

For extreme and high consequence dams only

Notification of significant changes to the dam

Emergency exercises

For extreme or high consequence dams only

Design and construction

Do not complete this section unless you are in the design, construction, commissioning, or decommissioning phase

Dam safety management system for design and construction

Certain work must be carried out by a person subject to a quality management system Regulation, subclause 23(1)

Independent competent persons must review work involving dam design Regulation, clause 24

Declared dam owner office holder(s) attesting to the accuracy of this report