Commentary on Sections Part 7 – Panels of Reservoir Engineers Section 102 – Panels of reservoir engineers
Civil engineers will play an important role in the supervision, inspection, and construction of controlled reservoirs under the Act. Section 102 enables the Department to establish one or more panels of reservoir engineers and to appoint suitable engineers to be members of such panels. The Department must by order specify the various sections within the Act and the types of reservoir in relation to which members of such reservoir panels may be commissioned by reservoir managers to undertake various roles. For example an ‘all reservoir panel’ may be established and engineers who are members of this panel may be commissioned to carry out the role of supervising engineer, inspecting engineer or construction engineer for any type of reservoir (e.g. impounding or service reservoir). Members of the ‘supervising panel’ would only be able to be commissioned to undertake the supervising role under the Act. Subsection (2) defines the term ‘suitable’ as including fit, and appropriately qualified and experienced.