King River (Tasmania)
| Industry | Hydroelectric power |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Tasmania , Australia |
| Products | Hydroelectric power |
| Website | www |
The King River stands as a significant perennial watercourse located in Tasmania's West Coast area.
Location and characteristics
Originating from the junction of the Eldon and South Eldon rivers near the Eldon Range on the slopes of the West Coast Range between Mount Huxley and Mount Jukes, the King River flows initially southward before turning west. Along its route, it receives inflow from nine tributaries, including the Tofft, Governor, Nelson, Princess, and Queen rivers, ultimately discharging into Macquarie Harbour close to Strahan, where it connects with the Southern Ocean. Over its entire length, the river experiences a notable elevation drop.
The upper reaches of the river traverse a valley shaped by glacial activity, evident in the glacial erosion marks on adjacent mountains. Several small glacial lakes are found here, such as Lake Beatrice situated on the eastern flank of Mount Sedgwick. The upper King River valley was first examined for potential dam construction in 1917 by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company.
King River Hydroelectric Development
The flow of the river is controlled by Crotty Dam, which creates Lake Burbury, flooding over 50 square kilometers of the former valley. This reservoir is named in honor of Tasmania's inaugural Australian-born governor, Stanley Burbury. Water from Lake Burbury powers the conventional hydroelectric John Butters Power Station, managed by Hydro Tasmania. Downstream from the dam, the river continues westward toward , where extensive sediment accumulation caused by mine tailings transported from Queenstown has generated mineral deposits substantial enough to attract mining interests along both the river and its delta at Macquarie Harbour.
The formation of Lake Burbury submerged a small timber milling settlement located near the former route of the Lyell Highway, which was part of the North Mount Lyell Railway connecting Linda and Pillinger, as well as inundating the townsite and smelting facilities of Crotty.
Queen River
Historically, the King River was considered Australia's most contaminated river due to extensive mining operations dating back to the 1880s. Its major tributary, the Queen River, served as a disposal site for waste from the Mt Lyell copper mine. From 1922 until 1995, processing of low-grade ore produced tailings that were discharged directly into this waterway.
Each year until 1995, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of sulfide-rich tailings entered the river system alongside large quantities of acidic water laden with metals originating from mine workings. This acid mine drainage occurred as water filtered through oxidized sulfide minerals. Furthermore, emissions from ore smelting operations resulted in acid rain that further harmed surrounding ecosystems.
In 1992, construction of Crotty Dam on the King River above its junction with the Queen River for hydroelectric purposes modified flow regimes and affected tailings transport. To date, nearly 100 million tonnes of tailings have accumulated along riverbanks and within the delta area at Macquarie Harbour.
Following mine closure in late 1995 and establishment of a tailings containment dam by new operators, direct tailings discharge into the river ceased. Nevertheless, acidic water continues to enter due to ongoing mine dewatering activities and runoff from waste rock piles. Without buffering effects from alkaline tailings, acidity levels and dissolved metal concentrations have sharply increased to concentrations harmful to aquatic organisms.
Abt Railway route
The original "Abt" rack railway to Queenstown traced the north bank of the lower King River valley, with the exception of the segment between Teepookana and Quarter Mile Bridge, which lay on the south bank. Constructed and operated by the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, this railway ceased operations and was dismantled in 1962. In 2002, it was reconstructed for tourism purposes as the West Coast Wilderness Railway, adhering precisely to the initial alignment.
See also
Sources
External links
- http://www.deh.gov.au/ssd/publications/ssr/120.html
- "King River". rpdc.tas.gov.au
- "Hydro Tasmania - King Catchment". hydro.com.au
- Power Schemes Storages