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| Gordon Dam | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gordon Dam |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South West Tasmania |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction | 1964–1974 |
| Owner | Hydro Tasmania |
| Type | Hollow concrete arch dam |
| Height | 140 m |
| Length | 198 m |
| Volume | 270,000 m3 |
| Reservoir | Lake Gordon |
| Reservoir capacity | 12,359 GL |
| Plant capacity | 432 MW |
| Plant commission | 1978 |
Gordon Dam is a large hydroelectric dam located in South West Tasmania on the Gordon River system. Constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, it formed Lake Gordon and is a key component of Tasmania's Hydro Tasmania network and the integrated Tasmanian electricity grid. The project played a central role in debates involving Gough Whitlam, Franklin Dam controversy, and Tasmanian environmental campaigns that engaged figures such as Bob Brown and organizations like the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
The origins of the dam trace to mid-20th century proposals by the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania) to harness the flow of the Gordon and King rivers for downstream generation at Gordon Power Station and link to developments such as the Derwent Scheme. Early feasibility and survey work involved collaborations with engineers and planners from institutions including the University of Tasmania and international consultants. The scheme accelerated under federal and state interactions during the administrations of Robert Menzies and later the Gough Whitlam government, culminating amid the political struggle over the proposed Franklin River dam projects. Activism by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society and interventions by the High Court of Australia and the Australian Labor Party influenced subsequent water management policy.
The dam is a hollow concrete arch structure designed by engineers associated with the Hydro-Electric Commission (Tasmania) and constructed by contractors who had worked on large projects like the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Construction techniques reflected advances used in major international works such as Hoover Dam and incorporated innovations in prestressed concrete and internal inspection galleries similar to those in Kurobe Dam. Access roads and logistics linked the site to ports like Strahan, Tasmania and rail and road networks serving the West Coast, Tasmania mining and timber industries. Key construction phases included diversion of watercourses, foundation excavation, concrete placement, and installation of outlet works and spillways.
The dam stands about 140 metres high and 198 metres long with a concrete volume near 270,000 cubic metres. It impounds Lake Gordon, one of Australia's largest storage reservoirs by capacity. Structural features include a hollow gallery system for inspection and maintenance, radial gates and spillway controls influenced by standards used in projects such as Wivenhoe Dam and Barragem de Alqueva. Operation is integrated with the Gordon Power Station and the statewide load-management practices coordinated by Aurora Energy and system operators in the National Electricity Market. Water is released downstream into the Gordon River and through engineered conduits to turbines, with monitoring by instrumentation comparable to protocols from the International Commission on Large Dams.
Gordon Dam supplies headwater to the Gordon Power Station, which houses Francis turbines and generators contributing several hundred megawatts to Tasmania's generation mix. The plant complements run-of-river schemes and pumped-hydro proposals such as the earlier Tulloch scheme concepts and later investigations into interconnectors like the Basslink link to the Australian mainland. Energy dispatch from the station is managed in concert with renewable sources including Tasmanian wind farms and the state's hydroelectric portfolio overseen by Hydro Tasmania for peak shaving, ancillary services, and grid stability.
The creation of Lake Gordon flooded extensive wilderness and altered habitats important to species catalogued by researchers from the Australian National University and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. The project intensified debates over conservation of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and spurred campaigns by activists such as Bob Brown and groups including the Tasmanian Wilderness Society and Friends of the Earth. Indigenous heritage concerns engaged Tasmanian Aboriginal communities and representatives who work with agencies such as the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. Broader policy outcomes influenced environmental law developments considered by the High Court of Australia and federal environmental assessments under legislation like provisions later enacted in statutes associated with national environmental protection frameworks.
Lake Gordon and surrounding areas attract boating, angling, and eco-tourism tied to attractions promoted by regional bodies such as the Strahan Visitor Centre and operators offering wilderness cruises akin to those on the Gordon River and Macquarie Harbour. The site features access routes used by hikers and anglers alongside wilderness experiences comparable to excursions in the South West National Park and tours related to Tasmanian heritage itineraries promoted by the Tasmanian Government and private tourism enterprises.
Ongoing inspection and maintenance regimes follow practices advocated by the International Commission on Large Dams and national regulators including the Office of the Tasmanian Energy Regulator. Maintenance activities include gallery inspections, monitoring of concrete stress and seepage, spillway gate servicing, and emergency action planning coordinated with local authorities such as the West Coast Council and state emergency services. Periodic upgrades align with lessons from events investigated by entities like the Australian National Audit Office and engineering reviews conducted with university research groups.
Category:Dams in Tasmania