Snowy Mountains Scheme: Difference between revisions
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The '''Snowy Mountains Scheme''' is a [[hydro-electricity]] and [[irrigation]] complex in south-east Australia. The waters of the [[Snowy River]] and its tributary, the Eucumbene, are captured at high elevations and diverted inland to the [[Murray River]] and the [[Murrumbidgee River]], through two tunnel systems driven through the Snowy Mountains. The water falls 800 metres and travels through large hydro-electric power stations which generate peak-load power for the [[Australian Capital Territory]], [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria]].<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/FDE81AE268C76207CA2569DE00274C14?Open# Australian Bureau of Statistics 1986 Special Article: The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme]</ref><ref>[http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/422.html Technology in Australia 1788-1988]</ref> |
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The '''Snowy Mountains Scheme''' is a massive water diversion, storage and [[Hydroelectricity|hydro-electric]] scheme, which takes water from the eastern slopes of the [[Australian Alps]] (part of the [[Great Dividing Range]]) in eastern [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and southern [[New South Wales]] through pipes, tunnels and aqueducts into a series of [[dam]]s, for use in hydro-electric power generation and irrigation in the [[Murrumbidgee River|Murrumbidgee]] and [[Murray River|Murray]] valleys. The scheme created two major artificial lakes, [[Lake Eucumbene]] and [[Lake Jindabyne]] as well as a number of smaller lakes and ponds. |
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The Scheme was completed in 1974, after twenty-five years of construction, and is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia.<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/0/FDE81AE268C76207CA2569DE00274C14?Open# Australian Bureau of Statistics 1986 Special Article: The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme]</ref><ref>[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/snowyscheme/ The Snowy Mountains Scheme]</ref> The Scheme's construction is seen by many "as a defining point in Australia's history, and an important symbol of Australia's identity as an independent, multicultural and resourceful country."<ref>[http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/snowyscheme/ The Snowy Mountains Scheme]</ref> |
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== Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme == |
== Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme == |
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Revision as of 05:11, 8 October 2007
The Snowy Mountains Scheme is a hydro-electricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia. The waters of the Snowy River and its tributary, the Eucumbene, are captured at high elevations and diverted inland to the Murray River and the Murrumbidgee River, through two tunnel systems driven through the Snowy Mountains. The water falls 800 metres and travels through large hydro-electric power stations which generate peak-load power for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and Victoria.[1][2]
The Scheme was completed in 1974, after twenty-five years of construction, and is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia.[3][4] The Scheme's construction is seen by many "as a defining point in Australia's history, and an important symbol of Australia's identity as an independent, multicultural and resourceful country."[5]
Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme
The associated Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, is one of the most complex integrated water and hydro-electric power schemes in the world and is listed as a "world-class civil engineering project" by the American Society of Civil Engineers.[6] The scheme interlocks 7 power stations and 16 major dams through 145 kilometres of trans-mountain tunnels and 80 kilometres of aqueducts. The scheme virtually reverses the flow of the Snowy River from its natural course toward the ocean and directs it inland. . The Scheme is in an area of 5,124 square kilometres, almost entirely within the Kosciuszko National Park. The design of the scheme was modelled on the Tennessee Valley Authority.[6]
The Scheme was managed by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority, now called Snowy Hydro Limited, and took 25 years to build, from 1949 to 1974,[6] at the historical cost of AUD$800 million, a dollar value equivalent in 1999 and 2004 to AUD$6 bn.[7] [8] It employed over 100,000 people from over 30 countries in its construction, providing valuable employment for a large number of recently arrived immigrants, and was important in Australia's post-war economic and social development. The Scheme built several temporary towns for its construction workers, several of which have become permanent: Cabramurra (the highest town in Australia); and Khancoban. Additionally, the economy of Cooma has been sustained by the Scheme.[citation needed]
The Scheme is the largest renewable energy generator in mainland Australia and plays a pivotal role in the operation of the national electricity market, generating approximately 3.5% of the mainland grid's power. The Scheme also has a significant role in providing security of water flows to the Murray-Darling Basin. The Scheme provides approximately 2,100 gigalitres of water a year to the Basin, providing additional water for an irrigated agriculture industry worth about $5 bn per annum, representing more than 40% of the gross value of the nation's agricultural production.[citation needed]
Environmental concerns
The original plan was for 99% of the water of the Snowy River's natural flow to be diverted by the Scheme below Lake Jindabyne. Releases from the Scheme were only based on the needs of riparian users and took no account of ecosystem needs; it soon became known that the lower reaches of the river were in environmental crisis. An extensive public campaign led to the Snowy Water Inquiry being established in January 1998. The Inquiry reported to the New South Wales and Victorian Governments in October of that year, recommending an increase to 15% of natural flows. The two Governments were equivocal about this target; aside from economic considerations there was a view that the health of the Murray is more important than that of the Snowy and any extra environmental flows are better used there instead.[citation needed]
In 1999 the seat of East Gippsland was won in the Victorian election by an independent, Craig Ingram, based in large part on his campaign to improve Snowy flows. In 2000, Victoria and NSW agreed to a long-term target of 28%, requiring $375 million of investment to offset losses to inland irrigators. In August 2002 flows were increased to 6%, with a target of 21% within 10 years.[citation needed]
A major spillway upgrade is being constructed to facilitate these flows. site plan
Power Stations
As of 2006 there were still seven power stations. These included in alphabetical order :
- Blowering which was completed in 1967
- Guthega which was completed in 1954
- Murray 1 which was completed in 1967
- Murray 2 which was completed in 1969
- Tumut 1 which was completed in 1958
- Tumut 2 which was completed in 1961
- Tumut 3 which was completed in 1974
Recent developments
In late 2005 there was a proposal by the federal and state governments to sell their shares in Snowy Hydro Limited. The proposal was abandoned in 2006.[9]
In 2007, due to the recent drought in Australia, water levels in the scheme were their lowest on record.[10]. Credit rating agency Moodys downgraded Snowy Hydro's outlook from stable to negative in the same month.
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics 1986 Special Article: The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme
- ^ Technology in Australia 1788-1988
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics 1986 Special Article: The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme
- ^ The Snowy Mountains Scheme
- ^ The Snowy Mountains Scheme
- ^ a b c "Designated Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks". Heritage Knowledgebase Database. American Society of Civil Engineers. Listed 1997. Retrieved 2007-03-09.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ Besley, M A (Tim) (1999). "The Need for Infrastructure Projects — Then and Now (an edited version of an address by the President Mr M A (Tim) Besley AO FTSE to the Alstom International Association (The Overseas Club) 11 August 1999, Sydney)". ATSE Focus No 109, November/December 1999. Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Retrieved 2007-03-09.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Anderson, John (2004). "Transcript of the Acting Prime Minister media conference, 7 June 2004 — Subjects: AusLink, Peter Garrett, US relations, Iraq, Federal election". Ministers' speeches. Department of Transport and Regional Services (Australia). Retrieved 2007-03-09.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Grubel, James (2 June 2006). "Australian government scuppers Snowy Hydro sale". Reuters. Retrieved 2006-06-02.
- ^ "Snowy water storage levels drop further". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
External links
- Snowy Hydro Limited
- Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme slide collection with accompanying text / Laurence Failes — as digitised and held by the National Library of Australia
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: 1986 Year Book Australia Special Article — The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme
- the Snowy River Alliance — a community group for the protection of the Snowy River