In the 1940s, the two schemes water for irrigation and water for hydroelectricity merged and the federal government passed the necessary legislation for the snowy scheme to proceed. A collection of 10 personal stories of former snowy scheme workers and their families. The scheme was designed to collect and store water, including water that would otherwise flow east down the snowy river to the coast, divert it through transmountain tunnels and power stations and then release it west of the snowy mountains into the catchments of the river murray and the murrumbidgee river. A history tells the extraordinary story of the mostly migrant workforce who. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme changed forever the landscape of the mountains around kiandra. Aug 28, 2017 tumut 3 power station is part of the snowy hydro scheme and was visited by prime minister turnbull for the announcement. Small generally means less than 10mw,and runofriver means the hydro scheme takes water when nature provides it, using a small, discreet weir and a buried pipe very different from storage schemes which use a larger dam. In 2016, the snowy mountains scheme was added to the australian national heritage list. In 1949 many migrants with engineering or construction skills and experience in working alpine conditions were targeted for the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme was one of the largest engineering ever undertaken in the world.
Hydro engineering hydro project management hydro development. The snowy river was initially utilised sustainably as a food and water resource by indigenous australians for around 30,00040,000 years prior to european settlement. The snowy mountains scheme is powering up to mark 70 successful years. Its one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in australia. The mowamba river or moonbah, below left has its own story in the snowy scheme saga. Member for monaro john barilaro has welcomed the inaugural snowy advisory committee sac, which has been established to provide expert and local input into the design of. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, new south wales power. In 1997 a new company, snowy hydro trading pty ltd shtpl, was established by the new south wales government and the state electricity commission of victoria. Snowy hydro discovery centre the snowy hydro scheme is on of the worlds incredible engineering feats that has helped shape our nation. Fed by melting snows, the river plays a major role in the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme, one of the worlds largest power and irrigation projects. The snowy river has the highest headwater source of any in australia and draws away a large proportion of the waters from the southeastern new south wales snowfields.
History of the snowy mountains scheme 70 years on newcastle. The plan from snowy river australian renewable energy agency. Snowy hydro the jindabyne story c1965 clip 2 on aso. An early hydro electric scheme in northern new south wales denis gojam thispaper describes one ofaustralias earliest hydro electric schemes, completed in early 1895 at hillgrove, neariirmidale, new south wales. Harold ogle tarbolton architect as part of the north of scotland hydro electric board architectural panel, j guthrie brown of sir alexander gibb and partners consulting engineer, 194751.
The aim of the snowy river hydro electic scheme was to harness the water of the snowy mountains to generate increased electricity and funnel muchneeded water to the dry centre and west of the. The scheme also provides some security of water flows to the murraydarling basin, providing approximately 2,100 gigalitres 7. Hi rich no the abstraction will make little difference when river tonking but the point is that the river is most useful when theres no water about. Its waters are impounded at a high elevation, diverted through tunnels under the australian alps to generate electricity, and then discharged into the murray and murrumbidgee rivers. This classic work is the last word on the extraordinary human, industrial, ethnic and social event of the snowy river scheme. This clip shows old jindabyne, new south wales, before it was flooded to form jindabyne lake dam, now part of the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme. On completion in 1974, the scheme consisted of seven power stations, 16 major dams, 145 kilometres of interconnected tunnels and 80 kilometres of aqueducts. Shot prior to the event, this is a wistful and rather charming sequence that attempts to capture the history and spirit of a region about to change forever. However this new scheme appears to divert most of the water into a pipe and underground away from the river at schlin i think on the swiss border coming back into the river at prutz. Case study overview the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is always presented as the beginnings of, and a triumph for, multiculturalism in australia. New hydro schemes on the inn the uk rivers guidebook.
The snowy river is a major river in southeastern australia. The kosciuszko dam and power station and windy creek dam were never built, due to environmental concerns. A history will be published by newsouth in may 2019. The saga of the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme. The scheme is situated in the australian alps in northeastern victoria about 200 km from melbourne 1911 a private syndicate investigated the possibility of establishing a hydro electric scheme. It took 25 years to build and is one of the largest and most complex integrated water and hydro electric power schemes in operation in the world. Educate students about the history of australias snowy mountain hydro electric scheme with this reading passage and math. It originates on the slopes of mount kosciuszko, australias highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the snowy mountains in new south wales, before flowing through the alpine national park and the snowy river national park in victoria and emptying into bass strait. It diverts the reliable waters of the southflowing snowy river, westwards, beneath the great dividing range, and in doing so provides electric power and additional water for the murray and murrumbidgee rivers to be used for irrigation. Surveyor george davison used this theodolite instrument for measuring angles to map the snowy area before the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme began. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme is the largest engineering project undertaken in australia, with a capacity of about 3,800mw. A new advisory committee has been established to guide the nsw governments management of water flows out of the snowy hydro scheme and into the snowy river catchment. In 1997 a new company, snowy hydro trading pty ltd shtpl, was established by the new south wales government and the state electricity commission of victoria, as a joint venture to trade electricity generated by the snowy mountains scheme in the national electricity market.
The scheme collects and stores the water that would normally flow east to the coast and diverts it through transmountain tunnels and power stations. The tales of the men and women involved were more diverse than for any other australian phenomenon, and siobhan mchugh conveys the varied tales of humans spread by it all over the snowy mountain region with a humane historian eye. Ckd galbraith representing a managed highland estate worked jointly with a neighbouring estate to identify a run of river hydro scheme on a march burn. In all these circumstances the snowy scheme was seen as an unwelcome competitor, particularly its capacity to sell into the grid in the middle part of the load curve, at the margin with thermal power. Tourism snowy mountains is an independent, notforprofit organisation recognised by snowy monaro regional council and destination nsw as the official tourism organisation for the snowy mountains and surrounding regions including all of the towns and villages of the monaro with their rich history and diverse experiences. The scheme operated for only a short time before being closed down, and was not reopened until 1900. The construction of the snowy mountains scheme was seen as a means of supplementing the flow of the great inland rivers, a means for developing hydroelectric power, and also a. Snowy mountains hydro scheme institution of civil engineers. Sometimes known as the snowy, its australias largest engineering project. They came to change the course of a river and changed the course of their lives. Snowy hydro scheme will be left high and dry unless we look. Snowy hydroelectric scheme a melting pot of different nations. In this book, the seven power stations, one pumping station, 16 major reservoirs, 145 km of interconnected tunnels and pipelines and 31 turbines are analysed, with comprehensive construction data detailed throughout.
Based on mchughs book, directed by stephen ramsey, assoc producer. The water of the snowy river and some of its tributaries, much of which formerly flowed. Oct 25, 2016 its been announced that the snowy mountains hydro scheme has made the national heritage list. An updated edition covering contemporary environmental issues is now in print and available from snowy hydros information centre, through bookshops isbn 9780977502936, online at booktopia or from coretext books. Oct 24, 2016 its been announced that the snowy mountains hydro scheme has made the national heritage list. This information will help the potential next wave of pumped hydro projects, such as the pumped hydro projects being examined in tasmania. If it was, how were former enemies able to work together apparently so successfully in a new community. It is the most complex, multipurpose, multireservoir hydro scheme in the world with 80 kilometres of aqueducts, 140 kilometres of tunnels, 16 large dams and seven power stations, two of which are underground. It was made in partnership with snowy hydro, woden. Snowy the making of modern australia is also available on kindle. Built between 1949 and 1974, the project consists of 16 major dams, 7 power stations, 2 pumping stations and 225km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. The snowy mountains hydro electric scheme is one of the most complex integrated water and hydro electric power schemes in the world.
The snowy mountains scheme is the largest hydro electric scheme in australia. We read it as part of our book club, but cant find any questions relating to the book. The snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme as told through the bestselling history, snowy the making of modern australia by journalist and author brad collis. Yes youre right in what you say about some of the hydro projects already on the inn, that they release and regulate water levels on some sections. The earliest scheme for the diversion of the snowy river waters to those of the murrumbidgee river dates back to 1884. Building the snowy snowy mountains hydro electric scheme. A history tells the extraordinary story of the mostly migrant workforce who built one of the worlds engineering marvels. Irish writer siobhan mchugh for her landmark book the snowy a history. The start of the snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme 80. The snowy mountains hydro scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south east australia. Snowy hydro will supply a range of technical information about the project.
One arm diverts water into the tumut river, the other into the murray river. How snowy hydro uses the natual cycle of water to generate electricity. It rises near mount kosciuszko and, up until the construction of the snowy mountains hydro electric scheme, it was the largest snowmelt river. Savigny said it was important to create a history of the snowy hydro using the participants own. New body to advise on snowy river flows from hydro scheme. Returning environmental flows to the snowy river an overview of water recovery, management and delivery of increased flows introduction the snowy river is an iconic river in south eastern australia. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme teachervision. Snowy hydroelectric photos snowy mountains hydro electric. But the grattan institutes energy program director. There are many more books, subjects include trout fishing, snowy scheme, snowy mountains and. The way the author draws on the stories of the individual employees and contractors, helps paints a vivid picture of the what it was to work there and brings real intimacy to the story. Time to do it again stop these unfortunately sa doesnt have the river systems to create a hydro scheme, but it does have hot rocks which the state government seems to think is only. Dams, power stations and tunnels were built so that the water from the snowy river could be used to provide power and irrigation. Come and experience this amazing part of australias electricity and water industries by visiting one of our facilities throughout the snowy mountains.
A documentary made after the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1999 showing attendees and archival video of the building of australias largest ever infrastructure project the snowy. The snowy mountains scheme is officially recognised as one of the seven civil engineering wonders of the modern world. Most hydro sites in scotland are classified as small runofriver. Is the snowy mountains scheme the achievement of the coalition or. Early in the 1900s, investigations were conducted into the potential of the snowy river for hydroelectric production. A wonderful sociohistorical document and an engrossing read a fine achievement. The project harnesses the snowy river with a series of dams. The snowy mountains scheme or snowy scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in. Snowy mountains hydroelectric scheme behind the news. First published on 40th anniversary of the snowy scheme, 1989 by heinemann. Snowy hydro the jindabyne story c1965 clip 1 on aso. Evidence of human occupation at cloggs cave, near the snowy river, near buchan, was dated at up to 17,000 years. The aqueduct track turns away from the snowy above the mowamba junction, and heads back out towards the snowy river way one of two ways to drive between jindabyne and dalgety.
The snowy hydro scheme is an iconic project in australian infrastructure provision, so it was good to read such an interesting account of its history. Focusing on some specific case studies, students investigate a continue reading. The attacks on the snowy scheme began, initially, on the basis that thermal power was cheaper than snowy hydro. Is a capitivating blend of imagination and history. Mar 22, 2017 snowy hydro scheme will be left high and dry unless we look after the mountains march 22, 2017 3. Scoping reports followed, which confirmed the potential, terms were agreed with the neighbours to form a joint venture jv company to develop and operate a 550 kw scheme. Proposed hydro sceme on the river arkaig scotland the uk. Construction started on the scheme on 17 october 1949, when the governorgeneral, sir william mckell, prime minister ben chifley and william hudson fired the. In 1964, jindabyne dam, built by the snowy mountains scheme, caused the flooding of the old town of jindabyne on the banks of the snowy river.
1090 929 360 1008 605 193 1181 358 177 159 1332 34 852 1598 121 415 153 769 1032 772 1184 1137 1547 624 755 626 1310 1248 54 1448 716 544 405 863