A Leaking, Unsuitable Dam Site
The owners of a market garden farm near Healesville, Victoria, wanted to convert a small dam into a natural aesthetic swimming dam that could also serve as water storage for irrigating plants.
The existing dam had been built years earlier in crumbly red soil with very little clay content. The soil is ideal for growing produce, but unsuitable for holding water. Over time, tree roots and vegetation had invaded the dam walls, causing extensive leaks. Despite regular maintenance, it “leaked like a sieve.”
The site is fed by a natural spring and surrounded by dense fern growth. Bringing in and compacting new clay would have been expensive and unreliable, with no guarantee of long-term success. The owners wanted a cost-effective but permanent solution that kept the surrounding ferns and natural look intact.