The Sydney Olympic Park Precinct comprises numerous sites with a legacy of historical landfilling, dredging, and land reclamation works. Despite this industrial history, the area today includes ecologically important habitats supporting diverse flora and fauna. As part of ongoing environmental management and rehabilitation efforts, the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) aimed to redesign and rehabilitate several lakes and ponds throughout the precinct.
Witt Consulting was engaged by SOPA to undertake comprehensive geotechnical site investigations and provide remediation design solutions to support these rehabilitation goals. The primary focus was the Lake Belvedere area and surrounding water bodies. Services provided included:
Geotechnical Investigations: Hand-auger excavation and logging of boreholes across the precinct to gather essential subsurface information. Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing was conducted both on land and within water bodies to evaluate soil strength and consistency. Additionally, hydrographic surveys were carried out to assess underwater topography, providing critical data to inform design decisions.
Remediation & Erosion Protection Design: Slope stability modelling using RocScience Slide, a limit-equilibrium software, to assess and ensure the stability of various slopes within the project area. Structural and geotechnical design was carried out for post and lagging wall retaining systems, providing effective earth retention solutions. Riprap shore protection was designed to mitigate erosion impacts around the lake islands, preserving shoreline integrity and enhancing long-term durability.
Whilst undergoing these works, there were multiple challenges/considerations our engineers had to counter for, including:
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Working within a sensitive ecological area required close coordination with SOPA ecologists.
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All fieldwork and design activities were undertaken in line with a strict Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimise disturbance to local habitats.
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The remediation design was carefully developed to reduce construction impacts on the surrounding environment, particularly during stabilisation works on the islands within Lake Belvedere.
Witt Consulting successfully delivered high-quality geotechnical and remediation services that aligned with SOPA’s environmental and engineering objectives. Through effective collaboration with environmental stakeholders and the application of sound engineering principles, the project advanced SOPA’s vision for sustainable landscape rehabilitation across the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct.
