XN000022-1975-05-17 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1975

HIGH ISLAND ADVANCES ONE STAGE FURTHER

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AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF WORK ON THE HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME VAS COMPLETED THIS WEEKEND WHEN THE LAST OF 6,619 MASSIVE CONCRETE *DOLOS+ UNITS WAS LOWERED INTO POSITION ON THE CREST OF THE EAST SEA COFFER DAM.

THE DOLOS UNITS, WEIGHING 25 TONS EACH AND LOOKING RATHER LIKE LARGE, CONCRETE SEA-ANCHORS, FORM A PROTECTIVE INTERLOCKING SYSTEM ON THE SEAWARD SIDE OF THE DAM, WHICH WILL HAVE TO WITHSTAND SEA FORCES WHICH CAN BE GENERATED FROM FAR OUT IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE DOLOS +WALL+ WILL BREAK UP THE FORCE OF THE WAVES. THE PLACING OF THE LAST UNIT ON FRIDAY (MAY 16) MEANS THAT THE SEAWARD DEFENCES OF THE EASTERN DAM ARE NOW COMPLETE AND THE DAM IS +TYPHOON-PROOF+, A WATERWORKS OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

THE WORK OF PLACING THE UNITS HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE MAIN CONTRACTOR ON THE HIGH ISLAND DAMS, THE VIANINI COMPANY OF

ITALY.

THIS WORK HAS INVOLVED THE CASTING OF THE UNITS ON A RESERVOIR FACTORY SITE AND CARRYING THEM BY SPECIALLY ADAPTED DUMPER TRUCKS TO THE DAM, WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN LOWERED INTO POSITION BY A GIANT CRANE.

THE OPERATION HAS BEEN' COMPLETED WITHOUT ONE ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO ANY WORKER, THE GOVERNMENT'S RESIDENT ENGINEER, MR. JIM ASPDEN, NOTED TODAY.

THE RESERVOIR IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IMPOUNDING WATER NEXT

MAJOR WORKS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1979, WHEN ITS CAPACITY WILL BE 60,000 MILLION GALLONS.

YEAR.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE PLACING OF THE LAST DOLOS UNIT ARE BOXED FOR COLLECTION LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

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