Meander Dam

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Meander Dam
Relief Map of Tasmania.png
Red pog.svg
Location of the Meander Dam in Tasmania
CountryAustralia
LocationNorthern Tasmania
Coordinates 41°41′30″S146°37′14″E / 41.69167°S 146.62056°E / -41.69167; 146.62056
Purpose Irrigation; Power
StatusOperational
Opening dateNovember 2007 (2007-11)
Construction costA$24 million
Owner(s)Tasmanian Irrigation (TI) Pty Ltd
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Gravity dam
Impounds Meander River
Height50 m (160 ft)
Length170 m (560 ft)
Elevation at crest402 metres (1,319 ft) AHD
Dam volume85 thousand cubic metres (3.0×10^6 cu ft)
Spillways 1
Spillway type Uncontrolled centrally located conventional spillway
Reservoir
Creates Lake Huntsman
Total capacity43,000 megalitres (1,500×10^6 cu ft)
Active capacity36,000 megalitres (1,300×10^6 cu ft)
Catchment area 163 km2 (63 sq mi)
Surface area45.3 hectares (112 acres)
Huntsman Lake Power Station
Operator(s)Tyco Tamar
Commission dateFebruary 2008 (2008-02)
Type Conventional
Hydraulic head 42 m (138 ft)
Turbines 1 x 1.95 MW (2,610 hp) double-Francis-type
Installed capacity 1.95 MW (2,610 hp)
[1]

The Meander Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Upper Meander River, located in northern Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Huntsman.

Contents

The dam was constructed in 2006 by the Tasmanian Rivers & Water Supply Commission for the principal purpose of delivering a reliable supply of irrigation water to the Meander Valley, estimated at 44,200 hectares (109,000 acres). Adjacent to the dam is a small conventional hydroelectric power station.

Features and location

Proposals to build a dam on the Meander River below Warners Creek date back to at least 1968. The site was cleared in preparation for dam construction during the last 1980s. In 1995 a report by engineering consultants, GHD Group, stated that the lack of a reliable water supply for irrigation in the Meander Catchment is seen as a key factor limiting potential future expansion of agricultural enterprises. The pressure on water resources in the Meander Catchment resulted in the need to limit and sometimes prohibit the extraction of water from the river during the irrigation season. In 2002, a water management plan for the catchment was under development and was expected to address environmental flow concerns through the implementation of higher minimum river flows. This increase in minimum flows would result in the need to reduce the irrigation water currently extracted from the river, which would reduce agricultural production and prevent the development of water dependent agricultural enterprises. [2]

However, the dam faced considerable opposition. Despite being passed by two other statutory committees of the Tasmanian Parliament, the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal knocked it back on economic and environmental grounds. The Tribunal vetoed the construction of the dam because it could not determine its economic value - as estimates ranged from a loss of A$600,000 to nearly A$40 million - and because it would affect two threatened species the epacris plant and the spotted tail quoll. [3] In September 2003, following intervention by the Australian Government, the project was approved. [4]

The Meander Dam wall, constructed with 85 thousand cubic metres (3.0×10^6 cu ft) of concrete, the gravity dam is 50 metres (160 ft) high and 170 metres (560 ft) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 43,000 megalitres (1,500×10^6 cu ft) of water. The surface area of Lake Huntsman is 45.3 hectares (112 acres) and the catchment area is 163 square kilometres (63 sq mi). [1] The single uncontrolled centrally located conventional spillway is 28 metres (92 ft) wide with four off Flowgate spillway gates. [2]

Since completing the construction of the Meander Dam a further four pump and pipeline schemes have been built to expand the reach of the water available from the dam and deliver irrigation water to the adjoining farming districts of Caveside-Dairy Plains, Rubicon River, Quamby Brook and Hagley. [5]

In 2008, Irrigation Tasmania installed a 215m long floating safety barrier, to protect recreational users from the hazards of the overflow spillway.

Power plant

The Lake Huntsman Power Station has one unique double Francis-type turbine, with a generating capacity of 1.95 megawatts (2,610 hp) of electricity. The Meander Dam, which creates Huntsman Lake and supplies the power station with water was completed in November 2007. The power station was commissioned in February 2008 by Tyco Tamar. Electric power generation is a by-product of water released to primarily satisfy irrigation purposes. [6] [7]

See also

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Lake Huntsman is an artificial lake created in 2007 in Tasmania, Australia, with the construction of the Meander Dam, which backed up the waters of the Upper Meander River and the various creeks and rivulets that flowed into it from the Great Western Tiers meltwater. Lake Huntsman provides irrigation water to the Meander region and generates electricity for the Huntsman Lake Power Station.

References

  1. 1 2 "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 Harriss; Hall; Best; Hay; Napier (11 December 2002). "Design, Construction, Financing and Operation of the Meander Dam" (PDF). Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Parliament of Tasmania . Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Courtney, Pip (15 June 2003). "Meander Dam". Landline . Australia. ABC TV . Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Probyn, Andrew (19 September 2003). "Meander Dam gets the nod". Stateline . Australia. ABC TV . Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Greater Meander Irrigation District: Overview Document" (PDF). Tasmanian Irrigation. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ↑ EcoGeneration (March 2008), Meander Hydro Commissioned, archived from the original on 3 March 2016, retrieved 4 August 2014
  7. ↑ Tasmanian Irrigation, Rubicon Irrigation Scheme - Operational, archived from the original on 4 February 2014, retrieved 4 August 2014
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