Cardinia Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Cardinia Reservoir is a 287,000 megalitre water storage located in Emerald
-Clematis
-Dewhurst
in south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne
, Australia
. Construction started in May 1970 and was completed in 1973 at a cost of more than A$11.4 million dollars.
to Western Port Bay
, passing through some small but well defined hills south of the outer suburb of Emerald. This site was chosen as being suitable for a new reservoir
. With the construction of one large embankment to serve as the dam wall
, and some other saddle dams in nearby hills, the large water storage facility of the Cardinia Reservoir was created.
Construction was completed in 1973, following which it took another four years to fill, including substantial water transfers from Silvan Reservoir. The surrounds of the reservoir were allocated $1 million for landscaping
work to create a recreational area including picnic
areas, playground
s, carparks, and walking track
s.
at the outlet of the pipeline generates electricity as water is transferred to Cardinia. Water from Cardinia supplies Melbourne's southern and south-eastern suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula
.
The Cardinia Reservoir is managed by Melbourne Water
.
Emerald, Victoria
Emerald is a town and semi-rural locality in the Greater Melbourne area, Victoria, Australia, 44 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district, outside the urban area. Its Local Government Area are the Shires of Cardinia and Yarra Ranges...
-Clematis
Clematis, Victoria
Clematis is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 42 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Cardinia.The town consists of a fire station, a pub, a railway station, a small hall and two shops....
-Dewhurst
Dewhurst, Victoria
Dewhurst is a bounded locality in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Cardinia. It is nearby Emerald and Upper Beaconsfield. It has a population of 700.-Nearby Attractions:...
in south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Construction started in May 1970 and was completed in 1973 at a cost of more than A$11.4 million dollars.
History
As Melbourne's water supplies struggled through the 1960s the need for additional water storage became evident. Cardinia Creek ran from the Dandenong RangesDandenong Ranges
The Dandenong Ranges are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately 35 km east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
to Western Port Bay
Western Port
Western Port, is sometimes called "Western Port Bay", is a large tidal bay in southern Victoria, Australia opening into Bass Strait. It is the second largest bay in Victoria. Geographically, it is dominated by the two large islands; French Island and Phillip Island. Contrary to its name, it lies to...
, passing through some small but well defined hills south of the outer suburb of Emerald. This site was chosen as being suitable for a new reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
. With the construction of one large embankment to serve as the dam wall
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
, and some other saddle dams in nearby hills, the large water storage facility of the Cardinia Reservoir was created.
Construction was completed in 1973, following which it took another four years to fill, including substantial water transfers from Silvan Reservoir. The surrounds of the reservoir were allocated $1 million for landscaping
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
work to create a recreational area including picnic
Picnic
In contemporary usage, a picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors , ideally taking place in a beautiful landscape such as a park, beside a lake or with an interesting view and possibly at a public event such as before an open air theatre performance,...
areas, playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s, carparks, and walking track
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s.
Timeline
Some important events in the history of Cardinia Reservoir have been:- 1966: Plans for the construction of the Cardinia and Thomson ReservoirsThomson River DamThe Thomson Dam is located on the Thomson River about 130 km east of Melbourne in Gippsland near the former township of Beardmore and the Baw Baw National Park....
were accepted by the Victorian State Government. Construction of the Tarago Reservoir commenced in 1966 and was completed in 1969. This water storage was built by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SR&WSC) to improve the capacity of the water supplyWater supplyWater supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
system to meet the ever increasing demand for water in the district. - 1967: Melbourne struggled through a severe drought and water restrictions were imposed in the summer of 1967/68. As a result, plans for construction of Cardinia and Thomson Reservoirs were advanced.
- 1973: Construction of Cardinia Reservoir by the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW)Melbourne WaterMelbourne Water is a government owned statutory authority that controls much of the water system in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia including the reservoirs, and thesewerage and drainage system that services the city.- Overview :...
was completed. As part of the Victorian Government's policy that fluorideFluorideFluoride is the anion F−, the reduced form of fluorine when as an ion and when bonded to another element. Both organofluorine compounds and inorganic fluorine containing compounds are called fluorides. Fluoride, like other halides, is a monovalent ion . Its compounds often have properties that are...
should be added to all public water supplies, construction began on local fluoridationWater fluoridationWater fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride...
plants. - 1981: Continued growth of demand on the Mornington PeninsulaMornington PeninsulaThe Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
finally overtook the district's ability to meet its own water supply needs. Despite upgrading of existing facilities, water from the MMBW reservoir at Cardinia was first used to supplement local water supplies. - 1993: Exporting of "Australia Pure", a bottled water from Cardinia Reservoir, commenced to several EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries and the United States of America.
Operations
Cardinia receives water via a pipeline from Silvan Reservoir. A 3.5 MW hydroelectric power stationCardinia Dam Power Station
Cardinia Dam Power Station is a small hydroelectric power station at Cardinia Reservoir near Melbourne, Australia. It is located at the outlet of the 12.5km pipeline transferring water from Silvan Reservoir. It is capable of producing 3.5MW of electricity and is owned by Pacific Energy.-References:...
at the outlet of the pipeline generates electricity as water is transferred to Cardinia. Water from Cardinia supplies Melbourne's southern and south-eastern suburbs, and the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
.
The Cardinia Reservoir is managed by Melbourne Water
Melbourne Water
Melbourne Water is a government owned statutory authority that controls much of the water system in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia including the reservoirs, and thesewerage and drainage system that services the city.- Overview :...
.
External links
- Cardinia Reservoir Park, Parks Victoria
- Cardinia Reservoir and Catchment, Cardinia Reservoir Park – Information Kit, March 2003, Parks Victoria