STEVEN PELLS

BE (Civil) Hons, MEngSc

Educational Qualifications:

Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) (Hons),
University of New South Wales, 2000
Master of Engineering Science (Coastal Engineering/
Hydrogeology), University of New South Wales, 2001

Professional Associations:

Member, International Institute of Engineers, Australia
Member, International Association of Hydrogeologists


FIELDS OF SPECIALISATION:

Assessment and Design of Hydraulic Structures
Water Resources and Surface Water Hydraulics
Hydrogeology and Seepage Hydraulics
Coastal Structures and Wave Dynamics


EMPLOYMENT:

2011 Current
Associate, Pells Consulting

2009 2011
Senior Project Engineer - WRL, University of New South Wales

2008 2009
Senior Water Engineer - Cardno Willing

2006 2007
Senior Water Engineer - Ove Arup Partners

2001 2006
Project/Senior Project Engineer - WRL, University of New South Wales

1997 2001
Graduate Geotechnical Engineer - Pells Sullivan & Meynink
Soils Technician (P/T) - Coffey Partners

1994 1997
Carpenter/J oiner - LW Hough P/L



PROJECTS RELATED TO HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES



2
Steven Pells
August 2011

2003-2005
Major Projects
Physical Testing of
Large Diameter Valves
Australia
Physical testing to determine headloss
characteristics of large diameter flow valves.
Physical Testing of
Large Diameter Pipe
Plug

Australia
Physical testing of the effectiveness of purpose
built apparatus to plug and decommission an
underground 1m diameter pipe, whilst in
operation.
Physical Modelling of
An In-Stream Detention
Basin
Kellyville, NSW
Management, supervision, design and
construction of a physical model of instream flood
control basin.
Assessment of Dam
Intake Structures for
J indabyne Dam
J indabyne,
NSW
Management, design, construction and testing of
a physical model to assess the performance of a
proposed dam intake structure.
Design of Scour
Protection for Rock
Weirs


Australia
Large scale physical modelling and analysis to
develop specifications for rock scour protection
for weir structures.
2006-2011


Major Projects
Assessment of
Hydraulic Forces on
Causeway Structures
Queensland
Hydraulic assessments were used as a basis for
preparation of guidelines.
Lined Storages -
Storage and
Distribution of Caustic
Soda
Gladstone,
QLD
Preliminary hydraulic modelling, review of
drainage technologies and design principles,
review of pipeline technologies and specialist
advice on scale modelling of caustic soda
distribution networks.
Appraisal and
Remediation of
Existing Tidal Weir
Structures
East Trinity,
Qld
Project manager for the assessment of existing
tidal control structures and design of new
structures to support tidal flushing of acid
sulphate remediation activities at East Trinity,
Cairns.
Testing of Tidal Energy
Turbine
Australia Laboratory testing of power output and efficiency
from turbine designs.
Physical Model of
Outlet Works, Adelaide
Desalination Plant
Adelaide, SA Design, construction and testing of a physical
model of the outlet works from a desalination
plant. The model was primarily of clear acrylic
piping and, at the scale of 1:6, was over 4 storeys
in height.
Expert Review of
Embankment Dam
Dorrigo, NSW Expert review of the embankment and hydrology
of a 15 m earth embankment dam to advise legal
proceedings.
PROJECTS RELATED TO COASTAL ENGINEERING



3
Steven Pells
August 2011

2001-2004
Major Projects
Breakwater /
Revetment Design,
Sydney Airport
Sydney, NSW Undertaking physical model studies for optimisation
of toe scour protection requirements for a
breakwater / revetment structure at Sydney Airport.
Estuarine Numerical
Modelling

Auckland,
New Zealand
Set up and calibration of 2D numerical
hydrodynamic model for examination of tidal
currents and estuarine processes in a region of
Auckland Harbour to allow examination of impacts
of proposed developments.
Numerical and Physical
Modelling of Mooring
Structure

Darwin, NT Numerical and physical modelling studies to assess
amplification or modification of currents adjacent to
a large wharf structure during the mooring of large
sea vessels.
Ocean Outfall
Assessment,

Wollongong,
NSW
Undertaking physical modelling of a section of
proposed outfall design for examination of saline
intrusion.
Wind-Wave Growth
and Dissipation Studies
and Research

Australia Physical testing and research to investigate the
physics of wind wave interactions and the
processes of wave growth and dissipation. Studies
resulted in the publication of new research into the
growth and dissipation of wind waves.
Seawall Assessment
and Design

Manly, NSW Detailed assessment of the stability and long term
performance of a high profile seawall in Manly,
Sydney.
Coastal Erosion
Assessment

Glenelg, SA Numerical assessment of coastal longshore
sediment transport to support expert advice for
litigation following coastal erosion issues at Glenelg,
Adelaide.
Design of Wave Paddle
System

Australia Design, construction and calibration of a wave
generation system for undertaking wave basin
modelling studies.
Assessment of
Sediment Response to
Offshore Reef
Structures
Australia Research into the shoreline response to offshore
reef structures. Tasks included design, supervision
and testing of a movable bed physical model.

PROJECTS RELATED TO COASTAL ENGINEERING



4
Steven Pells
August 2011

2005-2009
Major Projects
Physical Modelling of
Desalination Brine
Outlet
Perth, WA Design, construction and application of a physical
model to examine diffusion processes of brine
discharge from a large scale desalination plant.
Foreshore
Embankment
Stabilisation
Penrith, NSW Provision of specialist advice on options for
stabilisation of foreshore regions against erosion
around a series of inland lakes.
Appraisal and Design
of Coastal Protection
Structures
Green Island,
Qld
Project manager for the review of the function and
condition of a sediment control groyne on Green
Island (Great Barrier Reef).
Assessment of
Greenwater
Overtopping of
Offshore Structures
Browse, WA Technical studies to investigate the extent and
impacts of green water overtopping of a number of
large scale offshore structures.
Burwood Beach Ocean
Outfall Modelling

Newcastle,
NSW
Detailed analyses of meteorological conditions
were undertaken to predict the statistical frequency
of pollution events at beaches adjacent to an ocean
outfall.
Review of Sub-Aerial
Landslide Tsunami
Generation and
Propagation, Lihir Gold
Mine,

Papua New
Guinea
A tsunami event, caused by a sub-aerial landslide,
was recorded at a local tidal monitoring station.
Analyses of the characteristics of the tsunami event
were undertaken and used to postulate on the
extent, velocity and timing of the landslide.

PROJECTS RELATED TO HYDROGEOLOGY



5
Steven Pells
August 2011

2002-2005
Major Projects
Assessment of Surface
Groundwater
Connectivity

Centennial
Park, NSW
Field investigations, monitoring and analysis to
provide recommendations to irrigators regarding the
impacts to groundwater from the abstraction of
water from a public lake systems.
Feasibility of Saline
Intake Bores for
Seawater Desalination

Central Coast,
NSW
Detailed field investigations and associated
interpretation to assess feasibility of large intake
bores for a planned seawater desalination scheme.
Tasks included undertaking resistivity surveys,
drilling supervision, supervision and interpretation of
aquifer pumping tests, slug tests and groundwater
level and quality monitoring.
Assessment of
Groundwater Pollution
Sources
Confidential Presentation and interpretation of resistivity survey
data to assess location and extent of groundwater
pollution from industrial sources. Advice was used
to support litigation.
Groundwater System
Characterisation
Blue
Mountains,
NSW
Supervision of field investigations to characterise
groundwater hydraulics and quality in sandstone
aquifers in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Tasks
included supervision of drilling, bore logging,
groundwater sampling, and undertaking packer and
slug tests and associated analysis to estimate
hydraulic properties.
Impacts of Effluent
Disposal on
Groundwater in
Coastal Aquifers

NSW Management and undertaking of detailed field
investigations into groundwater hydraulics and
quality in coastal aquifers at various sites New
South Wales, including Hat Head, South West
Rocks, Iluka, Hasting Point and Sussex Inlet.
Monitoring was undertaken to determine baseline
conditions and assess the impacts to groundwater
systems subsequent to development of effluent
disposal schemes.
Assessment of
Groundwater Seepage
for Tunnel Design

Sydney, NSW Undertaking of permeability testing of sandstone
bores in the CBD of Sydney. Results were
interpreted to provide parameters to support design
of tunnelling works.
Design of a
Groundwater Effluent
Disposal Scheme

Iluka, NSW Detailed field investigations and associated
interpretation to assess feasibility and support
design of an effluent disposal scheme. Tasks
included supervision and interpretation of aquifer
pumping tests, and assessment of planned
infrastructure development locations with respect to
coastal processes.

PROJECTS RELATED TO HYDROGEOLOGY



6
Steven Pells
August 2011

2006-2011
Major Projects
Yamba Hill
Groundwater and
Slope Stability
Monitoring
Yamba, NSW Supervision of drilling and installation of
groundwater monitoring bores and inclinometers to
assess slope stability at Yamba.

Aquifer Storage and
Recovery Feasibility
Assessment, Ipswich

Ipswich, Qld Desktop studies to assess the feasibility and
potential yield of a proposed Aquifer and Storage
Recovery Scheme near Ipswich, Brisbane. Studies
included desktop assessment of local aquifer
systems based on available borehole data,
catchment hydrology assessment and analysis of
potential yields. Recommendations were prepared
with respect to yields, risks and infrastructure costs.
Perth Airport Drainage
Strategy, Review of
Groundwater

Perth, WA Review of aquifers, recharge and surface water-
groundwater interactions in the superficial aquifers
in the Swan Coastal Plain. A review of numerical
modelling techniques was undertaken, and advice
given to hydrologists to assist with flood modelling
of the Perth Airport site.
Review of Geothermal
Heat Pump
Applications, Energy
Australia Building

Sydney, NSW The design of a large Geoexchange system was
reviewed based on site characterization and the
derivation and application of analytical techniques
to simulate heat transport. Inconsistencies in
current design guidelines were highlighted, and
ongoing opportunities for research into this field
have been sought.
Groundwater
Characterisation and
Numerical Modelling
for Rainbow Beach
Estate
Rainbow
Beach, NSW
Specification of a groundwater investigation and
monitoring scheme for characterisation of a coastal
aquifer near Port Macquarie. A 3D numerical
groundwater model was assembled to simulate the
aquifer and to assess impacts from a proposed
development.
Review of Seawater
Intrusion of Coastal
Aquifers

Christchurch,
New Zealand
Literature review on the processes, international
experience and management of seawater intrusion
of coastal aquifers to provide guidance for policy
development in the Christchurch region, New
Zealand.
Managed Aquifer
Recharge Options and
Investigations
Borambil
Creek, NSW
Scoping studies to evaluate and advise on aquifer
management, enhanced recharge and stream
restoration, Borambil Creek in the Upper Namoi
catchment, New South Wales.
Review of Surface
Water Groundwater
Interactions, Longwall
Mining
Newnes
Plateau, NSW
Field reconnaissance, data review and surface
water modelling tools were used to provide advice
on potential impacts to surface water systems from
longwall mining effects.
PROJECTS RELATED TO HYDROGEOLOGY



7
Steven Pells
August 2011

Expert review of
groundwater impacts
from longwall mining
Southern
Coalfields,
NSW
Independent review of environmental assessments
of impacts of mining subsidence on groundwater
and surface water resources.
Review of hydrology of
Thirlmere Lakes
Southern
Coalfields,
NSW
Undertaking of an independent review of the
hydrology of Thirlmere Lakes, and comments on the
evidence for impacts from mining.





PROJECTS RELATED TO WATER RESOURCES AND SURFACE WATER



8
Steven Pells
August 2011

2002-2006
Major Projects
Design of Stormwater
Capture and Treatment
Ponds
Eraring, NSW Desktop analysis of catchment hydraulics to
prepare preliminary design of stormwater capture
and treatment infrastructure.
Physical Modelling of
Flooding and
Evacuation, Penrith
Lakes

Penrith, NSW Management, supervision, design and re-
construction of a physical model to examine flood
characteristics, floodplain risk planning and
evacuation timing for large lakes development
scheme in Western Sydney.
Feasibility of Flood
Harvesting Infiltration
Galleries
Broken Hill,
NSW
Desktop studies and field investigations to assess
feasibility of flood capture infrastructure.

Water Resource
Assessments, Far
North Queensland


Qld Preparation of a water supply strategy for the Far
North Queensland region. A comprehensive
review and appraisal of existing and potential
future supply options to meet regional forecast
demands over the next 50 years was undertaken.
Technical sub-studies were then undertaken to
assess the yield and reliability of traditional and
alternative supply options, ranging from large
dams to residential rainwater tanks and
stormwater harvesting.
2006-2011
Major Projects
Design of flood
detention ponds
Cecil Hills, NSW Hydrologic analyses for design of flood detention
ponds to support large residential subdivisions.
Hydraulic analysis
Urban flood hydrology
Marrickville,
NSW
Development of 1D stormwater network models to
assess flood risk and design flood mitigation
options for an urban catchments in Sydney.
Flood modelling and
design
Porters Creek,
NSW
Supervision of hydrologic and 2D flood models for
flood studies of the Porters Creek catchment.
Review of Catchment
Processes for
Flemington Road Pond
P2, Canberra
ACT Installation and operation of field equipment to
monitor responses to rainfall within aquifers and
ponds in a small catchment in Canberra and
development of water balance models for the
catchment.
Ranger Uranium Mine
Flow Modelling of
Post-Closure
Conditions
NT Construction and calibration of a hydrologic and
1D hydraulic flow model of catchments adjacent to
the Ranger Uranium Mine.

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS



9
Steven Pells
August 2011


JOURNAL PAPERS / RESEARCH REPORTS
1. PEIRSON, W L, FIGLUS, J, PELLS, S E and COX, R J - Placed Rock as Protection
against Erosion by Flow down Steep Slopes J ournal of Hydraulic Engineering. Volume
134, Issue 9, pp. 1370-1375, 2008.
2. PEIRSON, W L and PELLS, S E - A Laboratory Study Of Wave Growth And Air Flow
Behaviour Over Waves Strongly Forced By Wind. WRL Research Report 219 on behalf
of the United States Army, European Research Office Funding under contract number
N62558-04-M-0002, 2004.
3. PEIRSON, W L, GARCIA, A W and PELLS, S E - Water Wave Attenuation Due to
Opposing Wind J ournal of Fluid Mechanics 2003 Vol 487, pp 345 -365, 2003.
4. PELLS, S E & FELL, R - Damage and Cracking of Embankment Dams by Earthquake
and the Implications for Internal Erosion and Piping 21st ICOLD Congress 2003
Montreal Q83 83/R18 18.
5. PELLS, S.E & FELL, R - Damage and Cracking of Embankment Dams by Earthquake
and the Implications for Internal Erosion and Piping. UNICIV Report Vol 408, 220 pages.
UNSW 2002.

CONFERENCE PAPERS
1. PELLS, S.E - Potential impact of sea-level rise on coastal aquifers. Groundwater 2010
Conference, 31 Oct 4 Nov 2010, Canberra.
2. PEIRSON, WILLIAM L; FIGLUS, JENS; PELLS, STEVEN E and COX, RONALD J. -
Large Rock Protection against Erosion by Flow Down Steep Slopes. In: 9th National
Conference on Hydraulics in Water Engineering: Hydraulics 2008. Barton, A.C.T.:
Engineers Australia, 2008: [142]-[148].
3. PELLS, S.E - Desktop Estimation of Yield For Aquifer Storage Recovery Schemes. In:
Lambert, Martin (Editor); Daniell, TM (Editor); Leonard, Michael (Editor). Proceedings of
Water Down Under 2008. Modbury, SA: Engineers Australia ; Causal Productions, 2008:
1037-1048.
4. TIMMS, W., GLAMORE, W & PELLS, S.E. - Groundwater Quality Impacts Of On-Site
Effluent Disposal On-Site 05 Conference Proceedings 2005.
5. PELLS, S.E., TIMMS, W and TURNER, I.L. - Managing Groundwater in Coastal Sand
Aquifers NSW Coastal Conference Proceedings, 2004.