Lostock Dam Explained

Lostock Dam
Location Map:New South Wales
Location Map Caption:Location of Lostock Dam in
New South Wales
Coordinates:-32.315°N 151.4511°W
Country:Australia
Location:Hunter, New South Wales
Purpose:Flood mitigation, hydro-power, irrigation, water supply and conservation
Status:O
Construction Began:1969
Opening:1971
Owner:State Water Corporation
Dam Type:E
Dam Height:38m (125feet)
Dam Length:701m (2,300feet)
Dam Volume:623m2
Dam Elevation Crest:92m (302feet)
Dam Crosses:Paterson River
Spillway Count:1
Spillway Type:Concrete lined, flip bucket chute spillway
Spillway Capacity:2860m3/s
Res Name:Lostock Dam
Res Capacity Total:20220ML
Res Catchment:277km2
Res Surface:220ha
Res Elevation:155m (509feet) AHD
Res Max Depth:30m (100feet)
Plant Operator:Delta Electricity
Plant Commission:~2010
Plant Type:C
Plant Turbines:2
Plant Capacity:2MW
1.92MW (max. planned)

Lostock Dam is a minor rockfill and clay core embankment dam with a concrete lined, flip bucket spillway across the Paterson River upstream of the village of East Gresford in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and conservation. Mini hydro-power facilities were retrofitted in 2010. The impounded reservoir is also called Lostock Dam.

Location and features

Commenced in 1969 and completed in 1971, the Lostock Dam is a minor dam on the Paterson River, a tributary of the Hunter River, and is located approximately from both Maitland and Singleton, and also north-west of Newcastle, on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by Dumez Australia under contract to the New South Wales Water Department of Land and Water Conservation following the drought of 1964–66. At that time there was a need for a water conservation storage in the Paterson Valley to stabilise and further develop rural productivity.[1] [2] [3]

The dam wall height is and is long. The maximum water depth is and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back of water at AHD. The surface area of the reservoir is and the catchment area is . The ungated concrete lined, flip bucket chute spillway is capable of discharging .

The name of the dam originates from the village of the same name, located approximately downstream from the dam wall.

Power generation

A mini hydro-electric power station generates up to of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Lostock Dam. Constructed by Heidemann Hydro Australia,[4] [5] the facility is managed by Delta Electricity.[6]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lostock Dam. PDF brochure. State Water Corporation. 2009. 20 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213430/http://www.statewater.com.au/_Documents/Dam%20brochures/Lostock+Dam+Brochure.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.
  2. Web site: Register of Large Dams in Australia. Excel (requires download). The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. 16 April 2013. Dams information. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls. 12 December 2013. live.
  3. Web site: Lostock Dam. Water delivery: dams. State Water Corporation. 20 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410023654/http://www.statewater.com.au/Water%20delivery/Dams/Lostock%20Dam. 10 April 2013. dead.
  4. Economic and environmental wins from turbines. News and events: Media releases 2010. State Water Corporation. 3 August 2010. 20 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130421152850/http://www.statewater.com.au/About+Us/News+and+Events/Media+releases+2010/Economic+and+environmental+wins+from+turbines. 21 April 2013. live.
  5. Web site: Lostock Dam Hydro-Electric Plant. Heidemann Hydro GmH. 2013. 20 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130604053356/http://www.hydropower.de/cms/Lostock%20Dam_12.html. 4 June 2013. live.
  6. Web site: Mini hydros. Generation: Renewable Energy. Delta Electricity. 2009. 20 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130412044844/http://www.de.com.au/Power-Stations/Mini-hydros/Mini-Hydros/default.aspx. 12 April 2013. dead.