Splityard Creek Dam Explained

Splityard Creek Dam
Location Map:Queensland
Location Map Caption:Location of the Splityard Creek Dam
in Queensland
Coordinates:-27.3711°N 152.6369°W
Country:Australia
Location:South East Queensland
Purpose:Hydroelectricity
Status:O
Dam Type:E
Dam Height:76m (249feet)
Dam Length:1140m (3,740feet)
Dam Volume:69e3m3
Dam Crosses:Pryde Creek
Spillway Type:Uncontrolled
Spillway Capacity:570m3/s
Res Capacity Total:28700ML
Res Catchment:3.8km2
Res Surface:105ha
Res Max Width:294m (965feet)
Plant Name:Wivenhoe Power Station
Plant Operator:CS Energy
Plant Type:Pumped-storage
Plant Turbines:2

The Splityard Creek Dam is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam with an un-gated spillway across the Pryde Creek that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The sole purpose of the dam is for the generation of hydroelectricity.[1] The impounded reservoir is called the Splityard Creek Reservoir.

Location and features

The dam is located northwest of in the Somerset Region and forms the upper reservoir for the Wivenhoe Power Station.

Construction commenced in 1977 and was completed in 1980 by contractors Thiess Brothers and John Holland.[2] The rock and earthfill dam structure is high and long. The 3371e3m3 dam wall holds back the 28600ML reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of, the dam creates a reservoir with a surface area of . The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of .[1] The asset was transferred to CleanCo Queensland in October 2019.

Power station

See main article: Wivenhoe Power Station. Owned by CleanCo Queensland and operated by CS Energy, Wivenhoe Power Station is located on the eastern side of Wivenhoe Dam, north west of Brisbane. The station, which began commercial operation in 1984, was Queensland's first pumped-storage hydro-electric plant. It is operated remotely from an operating centre used to manage the Queensland electricity grid.

The dam's water capacity is enough for the power station to run at full load for approximately ten hours. Using both pumps, this water can be replaced in about 14 hours. The pumped storage power station consists of two circular concrete silos, each of about internal diameter. Each of the silos houses a turbine generator and pump set, giving a total capacity of .[3]

Recreation

Public access including swimming is banned from the dam due to strong currents and submerged hazards.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Register of Large Dams in Australia. Excel (requires download). Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. 4 July 2014. Dams information. 12 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls. dead.
  2. Web site: Wivenhoe Power Station: Official Opening. Queensland Flood Commission. 4 January 2019.
  3. Web site: Wivenhoe Dam. Seqwater. 6 December 2012.