Shoalhaven Scheme
Encyclopedia
The Shoalhaven Scheme is a dual-purpose water supply and hydro-electric power generation scheme in New South Wales
. It was built as a joint project between the Electricity Commission of NSW
and the NSW Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board. Management has subsequently been passed from those bodies to Eraring Energy
and the Sydney Catchment Authority
.
rivers. The dam was completed in 1976. It is 43 metres tall, 528 m long, and holds 75,000 megalitres. The lake created by the dam is called Lake Yarrunga.
. The dam is an earth and rockfill structure that was completed in 1974. The dam is 19 m high, 1140 m long, and holds 24,130 megalitres.
Wingecarribee River
is a tributary of Warragamba River
, so water pumped into Wingecarribee Reservoir can be released into Warragamba Dam
and hence the Sydney
water supply. Water can also be released into Nepean Dam via a system of rock cuttings and tunnels known as Glenquarry Cut. Water from the Nepean Dam can be transferred to Sydney, or to Wollongong via Avon Dam.
and Bendeela
power stations. Water is pumped uphill from Lake Yarrunga into Fitzroy Falls Reservoir via Bendeela Pondage. The water can be released back into Lake Yarrunga to generate power. The scheme can generate up to 240 MW.
fishery. Unfortunately, Tallowa Dam has been a potent barrier to migratory native fish with estuarine/marine juvenile stages, blocking species including Australian bass
from more than 80% of their former range in the Shoalhaven system. Recent stockings of hatchery bred Bass in Lake Yarrunga are a less than ideal attempt to remediate the situation. A fishway for Tallowa Dam has been discussed for more than 20 years but is yet to eventuate. A Fish Lift began operation in August 2009. Tallowa Dam has also suffered the illegal introduction of highly damaging exotic carp
, which are now present in high densities.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. It was built as a joint project between the Electricity Commission of NSW
Electricity Commission of New South Wales
The Electricity Commission of New South Wales, sometimes called Elcom, was a statutory body responsible for the generation of electricity and its bulk transmission throughout New South Wales, Australia...
and the NSW Metropolitan Water Sewerage and Drainage Board. Management has subsequently been passed from those bodies to Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy
Eraring Energy is an electricity generation company in Australia. It is fully owned by the Government of New South Wales, and has a portfolio of generating sites using thermal coal, wind, and hydroelectric power....
and the Sydney Catchment Authority
Sydney Catchment Authority
The Sydney Catchment Authority is a New South Wales, Australia Government agency created in 1999. The SCA manages and protects Sydney's drinking water catchments and catchment infrastructure, and supplies bulk water to its customers, including Sydney Water and a number of local councils.The SCA's...
.
Water supply
Water in the scheme is stored in three principal dams and reservoirs: Tallowa Dam, Fitzroy Falls Reservoir and Wingecarribee Reservoir.Tallowa Dam
Tallowa Dam is a concrete dam, located just downstream of the junction of the Kangaroo and ShoalhavenShoalhaven River
The Shoalhaven River is a river rising from the Southern Tablelands and flowing into the ocean near Nowra on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia.- History :...
rivers. The dam was completed in 1976. It is 43 metres tall, 528 m long, and holds 75,000 megalitres. The lake created by the dam is called Lake Yarrunga.
Fitzroy Falls Reservoir
Fitzroy Falls Reservoir consists of four separate earth and rockfill embankments, and was completed in 1974. The main embankment is 14 m tall and 1530 m long. The reservoir holds 9,950 megalitres. The 3300 m Wildes Meadow Canal connects the reservoir to the Burrawang Pumping Station. Burrawang Tunnel (2830 m) and Canal (1000 m) join the pumping station to the Wingecarribee Reservoir.Wingecarribee Reservoir
Wingecarribee Reservoir is located on the Wingecarribee RiverWingecarribee River
The Wingecarribee River rises on the heights at Robertson, fictional home of Babe the pig. It flows westwards, away from the sea, across the Southern Highlands plateau, near Bowral and Moss Vale, to Berrima...
. The dam is an earth and rockfill structure that was completed in 1974. The dam is 19 m high, 1140 m long, and holds 24,130 megalitres.
Wingecarribee River
Wingecarribee River
The Wingecarribee River rises on the heights at Robertson, fictional home of Babe the pig. It flows westwards, away from the sea, across the Southern Highlands plateau, near Bowral and Moss Vale, to Berrima...
is a tributary of Warragamba River
Warragamba River
The Warragamba River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. It is best known for being the location of the Warragamba Dam and Lake Burragorang, which form a major part of the water supply to the Sydney region.Prior to the creation of...
, so water pumped into Wingecarribee Reservoir can be released into Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and impounds Lake Burragorang.- Overview :...
and hence the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
water supply. Water can also be released into Nepean Dam via a system of rock cuttings and tunnels known as Glenquarry Cut. Water from the Nepean Dam can be transferred to Sydney, or to Wollongong via Avon Dam.
Power generation
The Shoalhaven is a pumped storage scheme comprising the Kangaroo ValleyKangaroo Valley Hydroelectric Pumping Station
Kangaroo Valley Hydroelectric Pumping Station is a hydroelectric power station in the Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Kangaroo Valley has two 80 MW pump/turbine units, for a total electricity generating capacity of 160 MW....
and Bendeela
Bendeela hydroelectric pumping station
Bendeela hydroelectric pumping station is a hydroelectric power station in the Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Bendeela has two 40 MW pump/turbine units, for a total of 80 MW electricity generating capacity....
power stations. Water is pumped uphill from Lake Yarrunga into Fitzroy Falls Reservoir via Bendeela Pondage. The water can be released back into Lake Yarrunga to generate power. The scheme can generate up to 240 MW.
Environmental Consequences
The Shoalhaven River and its main tributary the Kangaroo River were once renowned as an Australian bassAustralian bass
Australian bass are a small to medium sized, primarily freshwater native fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. They are a member of the Percichthyidae family and, currently, the Macquaria genus. Australian bass are an iconic, highly predatory native fish...
fishery. Unfortunately, Tallowa Dam has been a potent barrier to migratory native fish with estuarine/marine juvenile stages, blocking species including Australian bass
Australian bass
Australian bass are a small to medium sized, primarily freshwater native fish found in coastal rivers and streams along the east coast of Australia. They are a member of the Percichthyidae family and, currently, the Macquaria genus. Australian bass are an iconic, highly predatory native fish...
from more than 80% of their former range in the Shoalhaven system. Recent stockings of hatchery bred Bass in Lake Yarrunga are a less than ideal attempt to remediate the situation. A fishway for Tallowa Dam has been discussed for more than 20 years but is yet to eventuate. A Fish Lift began operation in August 2009. Tallowa Dam has also suffered the illegal introduction of highly damaging exotic carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, which are now present in high densities.
See also
- Bendeela hydroelectric pumping stationBendeela hydroelectric pumping stationBendeela hydroelectric pumping station is a hydroelectric power station in the Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Bendeela has two 40 MW pump/turbine units, for a total of 80 MW electricity generating capacity....
- Kangaroo Valley hydroelectric pumping stationKangaroo Valley Hydroelectric Pumping StationKangaroo Valley Hydroelectric Pumping Station is a hydroelectric power station in the Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Kangaroo Valley has two 80 MW pump/turbine units, for a total electricity generating capacity of 160 MW....