| Glenbawn Dam | |
|---|---|
 View over Glenbawn Lake, looking south towards Glenbawn Dam embankment wall, 2013 | |
  Glenbawn Dam Location of the Glenbawn Dam in New South Wales | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Hunter Valley,New South Wales |
| Coordinates | 32°5′54″S150°59′4″E / 32.09833°S 150.98444°E /-32.09833; 150.98444 |
| Purpose | Environmental,hydro-electric power,irrigation,water supply and conservation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1948 |
| Opening date | 1958 |
| Construction cost | A£1,500,000 |
| Owner | WaterNSW |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment dam |
| Impounds | Hunter River |
| Height | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Length | 1,125 m (3,691 ft) |
| Spillways | 2 |
| Spillway type | Concrete chute spillway plusfuse plugs |
| Spillway capacity | 11,115 m3/s (392,500 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Glenbawn |
| Total capacity | 749,840 ML (26,480×10 |
| Catchment area | 1,300 km2 (500 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 2,614 ha (6,460 acres) |
| Maximum water depth | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Normal elevation | 276 m (906 ft)AHD |
| Power Station | |
| Operator | AGL Energy |
| Commission date | January 1995 |
| Type | Conventional |
| Turbines | 1 |
| Installed capacity | 5.5 MW (7,400 hp) |
| Annual generation | 4.4 GWh (16 TJ) |
| Website Glenbawn Dam at www.waternsw.com.au | |
Glenbawn Dam is a major ungatedearth and rock fill with clay core embankmentdam withconcrete chute spillway plusfuse plugs across theHunter River upstream ofAberdeen in theHunter Valley ofNew South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includesflood mitigation,hydro-electric power,irrigation,water supply and conservation. The impoundedreservoir is calledLake Glenbawn.
Glenbawn Dam was created through enabling legislation enacted through the passage of theGlenbawn Dam Act, 1946 (NSW). TheAct appropriatedA£1,500,000 as the estimated cost of construction of the dam.[1]
Commenced in late 1947 and completed in late 1957, the Glenbawn Dam is a major dam on the Hunter River and is the fourth largest earth-filled embankment dam in Australia by volume. The dam is located approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the town ofScone on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by the New South Wales Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission to supply water for irrigation and flood mitigation.[2][3][4]
The dam wall height is 100 metres (330 ft) and is 1,125 metres (3,691 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 85 metres (279 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 749,840 megalitres (26,480×10^6 cu ft) of water at 276 metres (906 ft)AHD. The dam has an additional reserve capacity of 120,000 megalitres (4,200×10^6 cu ft) to hold floodwaters that reduce flooding downstream. The surface area of Lake Glenbawn is 2,614 hectares (6,460 acres) and the catchment area is 1,300 square kilometres (500 sq mi). The ungated concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging 11,115 cubic metres per second (392,500 cu ft/s).[2][3][4] An upgrade of facilities completed in 1987 took the height of the dam wall from 78 metres (256 ft) to its current height.[2][3] Glenbawn Dam is operated in conjunction withGlennies Creek Dam, and they may be upgraded topumped-storage hydroelectricity.[5][6] The two dams supply water requirements along 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the Hunter River from Glenbawn to the tidal reaches nearMaitland.[2]
The name Glenbawn originates after a riverside property resumed for part of the storage area.[7]
A hydro-electricpower station generates up to 5.5 megawatts (7,400 hp) ofelectricity from the flow of the water leaving Glenbawn Dam with an average output of 4.4 gigawatt-hours (16 TJ) per annum. The station was completed in January 1995. The facility is managed byAGL Energy.[8]
The dam is a popular location for water skiing and fishing, both by boat and from shore. Located adjacent to the dam and the lake is anature reserve; Lake Glenbawn State Park.[9]
