Provide an overview of the scheme including: Reason for its implementation, key aspects about construction and current use.
Overview
This scheme is one of the most complex integrated water and hydro-electricty power schemes in the world. A decision was made to divert the waters west via tunnels from the Snowy and Tumut Rivers, through the Great Dividing Range to the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers. This decision was to enable irrigation of the inland plains who depended on water to grow crops, fruit and vegetables, to supply the majority of the Country's energy needs and to put Australia on the map as a leading country of engineering brilliance. Within this tunnel system, the water drops 800 metres, generating electricity in power stations and supplying electricity for the NSW, ACT and Victorian systems.
The scheme consists of 16 dams, 12 tunnels (140 kilometres in length), 1 pumping station, 7 power stations (2 underground), 49 townships and 1,600 kilometres of tracks and roads built specifically. The system diverts 71 creeks, and 12 major rivers which flow across the borders of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT. A main part of the Scheme is the construction of aqueducts that collect and divert water into the storages and tunnels. The idea to implement this system as a means of preventing the effects of droughts, was discussed as far back as the 1880's, however it was not until 1944 that a committee of Commonwealth and State representatives was formed to examine the idea of the development of water resources in this region. In 1949, the Commonwealth Parliament passed The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electricity Power Act 1949, which established the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electircty Authority, which is the operating body of this Scheme. The Snowy Mountains region was selected for the development of Hydro-electric works and irrigation storage as it is one of the hight and wettest regions in Australia.
See interactive reference list for references
Construction
Construction began on 17 October 1949 and was completed in 1974 taking a total of 25 years to complete with a total cost of the Scheme was $820 million (funded by the Commonwealth Government advances). Over 100,000 people worked on the scheme, with a total of 121 people losing their lives as a result of industrial accidents. This was the construction project ever complete in Australia and due to the ambitious nature of this project, engineers were required to develop new tunnelling and construction methods, revolutionising the industry around the world. Cheaper and safer construction methods were established, setting new standards in occupational health and safety, power station adopted higher outputs of electricity transmission that ever recorded, and the use of the world's first transistorised computers called Snowcom that ensured efficiency of the scheme. The workers had to experience hard work and tough conditions as 98% of the Scheme was underground and required tunnelling through solid granite rock.
See interactive reference list for references
This scheme is one of the most complex integrated water and hydro-electricty power schemes in the world. A decision was made to divert the waters west via tunnels from the Snowy and Tumut Rivers, through the Great Dividing Range to the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers. This decision was to enable irrigation of the inland plains who depended on water to grow crops, fruit and vegetables, to supply the majority of the Country's energy needs and to put Australia on the map as a leading country of engineering brilliance. Within this tunnel system, the water drops 800 metres, generating electricity in power stations and supplying electricity for the NSW, ACT and Victorian systems.
The scheme consists of 16 dams, 12 tunnels (140 kilometres in length), 1 pumping station, 7 power stations (2 underground), 49 townships and 1,600 kilometres of tracks and roads built specifically. The system diverts 71 creeks, and 12 major rivers which flow across the borders of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and the ACT. A main part of the Scheme is the construction of aqueducts that collect and divert water into the storages and tunnels. The idea to implement this system as a means of preventing the effects of droughts, was discussed as far back as the 1880's, however it was not until 1944 that a committee of Commonwealth and State representatives was formed to examine the idea of the development of water resources in this region. In 1949, the Commonwealth Parliament passed The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electricity Power Act 1949, which established the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electircty Authority, which is the operating body of this Scheme. The Snowy Mountains region was selected for the development of Hydro-electric works and irrigation storage as it is one of the hight and wettest regions in Australia.
See interactive reference list for references
Construction
Construction began on 17 October 1949 and was completed in 1974 taking a total of 25 years to complete with a total cost of the Scheme was $820 million (funded by the Commonwealth Government advances). Over 100,000 people worked on the scheme, with a total of 121 people losing their lives as a result of industrial accidents. This was the construction project ever complete in Australia and due to the ambitious nature of this project, engineers were required to develop new tunnelling and construction methods, revolutionising the industry around the world. Cheaper and safer construction methods were established, setting new standards in occupational health and safety, power station adopted higher outputs of electricity transmission that ever recorded, and the use of the world's first transistorised computers called Snowcom that ensured efficiency of the scheme. The workers had to experience hard work and tough conditions as 98% of the Scheme was underground and required tunnelling through solid granite rock.
See interactive reference list for references
Current Use
65 years on, the Snowy Hydro Scheme still plays an important role in the growth of the Nations economy, by diverting water that contributes to over $3 billion in agricultural produce and by generating clean, renewable energy. Currently, the Scheme provides approximately 32% of all renewable energy that supplies the eastern mainland grid of Australia, as well as providing fast response power that is responsible for lighting up the morning and evening rush hours of Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. The latest decade has seen the $400 million Scheme Modernisation program which will maximise the value of the Schemes hydro-generation assets. This program will deliver engineering solutions and introduce advanced controls and protection system technology. As technology is ever expanding, the improvement of Scheme components such as high voltage transformers, circuit breakers, and cables will be replaced with modern and improved components. Other improvements made are the replacement of turbine runners, improving efficiency of water utilisation and maintenance of the extensive trans-mountain tunnel systems, ensuring ongoing, reliable management of water utilised. With a decline of wholesale energy demand, the Hydro Scheme is re-inventing itself with a retail focus, selling energy directly to homes and business.
65 years on, the Snowy Hydro Scheme still plays an important role in the growth of the Nations economy, by diverting water that contributes to over $3 billion in agricultural produce and by generating clean, renewable energy. Currently, the Scheme provides approximately 32% of all renewable energy that supplies the eastern mainland grid of Australia, as well as providing fast response power that is responsible for lighting up the morning and evening rush hours of Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. The latest decade has seen the $400 million Scheme Modernisation program which will maximise the value of the Schemes hydro-generation assets. This program will deliver engineering solutions and introduce advanced controls and protection system technology. As technology is ever expanding, the improvement of Scheme components such as high voltage transformers, circuit breakers, and cables will be replaced with modern and improved components. Other improvements made are the replacement of turbine runners, improving efficiency of water utilisation and maintenance of the extensive trans-mountain tunnel systems, ensuring ongoing, reliable management of water utilised. With a decline of wholesale energy demand, the Hydro Scheme is re-inventing itself with a retail focus, selling energy directly to homes and business.