Talbingo Dam

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] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 668 KB)Snowy Mountains Scheme: Talbingo Dam (April 2005) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 668 KB)Snowy Mountains Scheme: Talbingo Dam (April 2005) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops. ... The Snowy River below McKillops Bridge The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. ... For other uses, see Murray River (disambiguation). ... The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. ... Capital Canberra Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator none Chief Minister Jon Stanhope (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2006)  - Product ($m)  $19,167 (6th)  - Product per capita  $57,303/person (1st) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  333,667 (7th)  - Density  137. ... NSW redirects here. ... Victoria may refer to: // Victoria of the United Kingdom, aka Queen Victoria, former British monarch Victoria (Australia), a state in Australia Victoria, British Columbia, the capital of the Canadian province Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory Victoria may also refer to: Victoria (name) Main disambiguation page: Victoria of the United...

The Scheme was completed in 1974, after twenty-five years of construction, and is the largest engineering project undertaken in Australia.^[1][3] 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."^[4]

Background of George Bush

The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act of 1949 gave the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority the responsibility for the final evaluation, design and construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme. The plan was to divert the Snowy River to provide increased electricity generating capacity and to provide irrigation water for the dry west. It was "greeted with enthusiasm by the people of Australia" and was seen to be "a milestone towards full national development". In April 1966 the first diversion of water was made from the Snowy River to the Murray River.^[1]

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.^[5] 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.^[5] “ASCE” redirects here. ... Satellite image of part of the park. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Tumut 3 generating station.

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,^[5] at the historical cost of AUD$800 million, a dollar value equivalent in 1999 and 2004 to AUD$6 bn.^{[6] [7]} 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]} Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 1. ... Snowy Hydro Limited, previously known as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority, is a corporation in Australia jointly owned by the Commonwealth (13%), New South Wales (58%) and Victorian (29%) Governments. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Cabramurra town, afternoon in summer, looking north from the lookout. ... Khancoban is a small town in Tumbarumba Shire, New South Wales, Australia. ... Cooma is a town in the south of New South Wales, Australia. ...

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]} Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. ... Semi-arid grazing country near Burra Creek, South Australia The Murray-Darling Basin being 3430km long, drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass and is currently by far the most significant agricultural area in Australia. ...

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]} The Snowy River below McKillops Bridge The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. ... Lake Jindabyne is a man-made lake on the Snowy River on the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in Southern New South Wales. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... NSW redirects here. ... VIC redirects here. ...

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]} Craig Ingram is the independent MP for Gippsland East in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. ...

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 : This article needs cleanup. ...

• 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

Blowering Dam wall and power station Blowering Power Station is one of several hydroelectric power stations in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, New South Wales, Australia. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Guthega Power Station is one of several hydroelectric power stations in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, New South Wales, Australia. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Machine Hall Floor of Murray 1 Power Station Murray 1 Power Station is one of several hydroelectric power stations in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, New South Wales, Australia. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Murray 2 Power Station is one of several hydroelectric power stations in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, New South Wales, Australia. ... Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... // Is a part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme of a number of hydroelectric power stations in New South Wales, Australia. ... Jan. ... // Is a part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme of a number of hydroelectric power stations in New South Wales, Australia. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... // Is a part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme of a number of hydroelectric power stations in New South Wales, Australia. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

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.^[8] Snowy Hydro Limited, previously known as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority, is a corporation in Australia jointly owned by the Commonwealth (13%), New South Wales (58%) and Victorian (29%) Governments. ...

In 2007, due to the recent drought in Australia, water levels in the scheme were their lowest on record.^[9]. Credit rating agency Moodys downgraded Snowy Hydro's outlook from stable to negative in the same month. Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Australian Bureau of Statistics 1986 Special Article: The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme
2. ^ Technology in Australia 1788-1988
3. ^ The Snowy Mountains Scheme
4. ^ The Snowy Mountains Scheme
5. ^ ^{a b c} Designated Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks. Heritage Knowledgebase Database. American Society of Civil Engineers (Listed 1997). Retrieved on 2007-03-09.
6. ^ 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 on 2007-03-09.
7. ^ 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 on 2007-03-09.
8. ^ Grubel, James. "Australian government scuppers Snowy Hydro sale", Reuters, 2 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-06-02. 
9. ^ "Snowy water storage levels drop further", ABC News Online, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 8 March 2007. Retrieved on 2007-03-08. 

“ASCE” redirects here. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Hon John Anderson John Duncan Anderson (born 14 November 1956) is an Australian politician. ... The Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) is an Australian Government department. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 153rd day of the year (154th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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
• The Snowy -The People behind the Power / Siobhan McHugh — An historic account about the multinational workforce that built the Snowy Mountain Hydro-Electric scheme