Session Highlights

Do we actually understand why dam procurement is different, and can be of greater risk and complexity to other civil engineering procurement?

How can the risks in dam procurement be managed through the procurement life-cycle? What options can be considered?

Session One will explore case studies on dealing with a range of risks in procurement and during construction, covering Dams and comparing to other civil engineering projects. Specific concepts of interest will include:

• Overview of procurement in Dam projects and common risks
• Tendering processes and associated pitfalls
• procurement strategies and Contract formation

Upgrading dams has inherent risks that are specific to the dams industry….. or are they?

Geological uncertainties, floods and community risks associated with temporary or partially constructed works – they are all examples of risks we face in the dams industry yet there are other industries which experience similar challenges. In Session 2 we explore the commonalities of risks encountered in the dams industry with other high risk industries. In particular, we will hear from the tunnelling industry is leading the way with contract forms and processes which give a greater degree of clarity over managing the risks. We will learn how risks were managed in procurement of Sydney’s desalination plant, and we will also hear from a contractors perspective how risks are effectively managed on other major infrastructure projects.

How relatable are these case studies to your situation / experience?

What are the lessons learnt from these case histories?

Having defined the complex issues around procurement for dam projects and heard of lessons from other high-risk industries, Session 3 will share experiences and explore a number of examples of dam procurement specifically from the dam’s industry. We will discuss successes and challenges from a range of perspectives including from dam owner, contractor and government perspectives.

This session aims to give us an understanding of how practitioners in the Australian dam’s industry and other professionals have undertaken successful risk management and procurement of dam project delivery and will also share lessons from projects where things have not gone so well or could have gone better.

How does the scale of the project, timeframes or other project specifics influence selection of the procurement approach?

What part does insurance play in managing risks in dam procurement?

Session Four will explore how different situations (such as emergencies, the scale of the project, location or tight timeframes) impact risk and selection of the procurement approach. Various case histories will be shared from a Designer and an Owner perspective covering a broad range of procurement models.
This session will also delve into Construction Insurance. The fundamentals, such as the type of policies available and the role of the various players in the insurance industry (e.g. insurer, underwriter, broker, risk engineer) will be explained. An insight to insurance risk engineering will provided, along with “red- flags” for insurers and how the industry can work with insurers for mutual benefits.

How do we see ‘best practice’ of procuring and managing risks on dam projects in the future?

In Session Five of the forum program, Paul Foxlee (KPMG) and Dan Young (Allens) will focus on the future of procuring and managing risks on dam projects.
We envisage that this will set the scene for the next stage of industry discussion and guidance after the forum.