Meander Dam
| Company type | Public infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water management, Hydroelectric power |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Meander Valley , Australia |
| Products | Irrigation water supply, Hydroelectric power |
| Parent | Tasmanian Rivers & Water Supply Commission |
The Meander Dam is a concrete gravity dam situated on the Upper Meander River in northern Tasmania, Australia. It forms the reservoir known as Lake Huntsman.
Built in 2006 by the Tasmanian Rivers & Water Supply Commission, the dam primarily serves to ensure a dependable irrigation water source for the Meander Valley, supporting around . Adjacent to the dam is a small-scale conventional hydroelectric facility.
Features and location
Plans to construct a dam on the Meander River below Warners Creek originated in 1968, with site preparation taking place in the late 1980s. A 1995 engineering report by GHD Group identified unreliable irrigation water in the Meander Catchment as a key barrier to agricultural growth. Due to pressures on water resources, restrictions were imposed on river water extraction during irrigation periods. By 2002, a water management strategy sought to raise minimum river flows for environmental protection, consequently reducing irrigation water availability and hindering farming expansion.
The dam encountered substantial opposition. While two Tasmanian parliamentary committees endorsed the project, the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal rejected it based on economic and environmental concerns, noting uncertain financial benefits—ranging from a loss of 600,000 to nearly 40 million—and possible impacts on endangered species such as the epacris plant and spotted tail quoll. The project received approval in September 2003 following intervention by the Australian Government.
Constructed with of concrete, the Meander Dam wall is a gravity structure measuring high and long. Its maximum storage capacity is , with Lake Huntsman spanning and draining a catchment area of . The dam includes a single uncontrolled central spillway wide, fitted with four off Flowgate spillway gates.
After completion, four additional pump and pipeline systems extended water delivery from the dam to agricultural areas including Caveside-Dairy Plains, Rubicon River, Quamby Brook, and Hagley. In 2008, Irrigation Tasmania installed a 215m floating safety barrier to safeguard recreational users from spillway dangers.
Power plant
The Lake Huntsman Power Station utilizes a distinctive double Francis-type turbine with a generation capacity of . Drawing water from Meander Dam—which was completed in November 2007 and forms Huntsman Lake—the facility was commissioned in February 2008 by Tyco Tamar. Electricity production occurs as a secondary benefit of water releases primarily intended for irrigation purposes.
See also
External links
- Huntsman Lake page on Tas Fish