Chaffey upgrade
Chaffey Dam
Locationed on the Peel River, 43km upstream of Tamworth- Dam completed in 1979
- Storage capacity of 62,830 megalitres (will be 100 gigalitres following augmentation)
About the upgrade
- Stage one - $13 million funded by the NSW Government
- Stage two and augmentation - $43.33 million funded by the Australian Government, NSW Government, Tamworth Regional Council and local water users
- 2010 start date
- 2014 expected completion
Description
Upgrade the dam to comply wtih ANCOLD and DSC safety standards.
- Stage one - Construction of a 35 metre auxiliary spillway with release plug.
- Stage two and augmentation - Stage two of the upgrade will be incorporated into augmentation, involving raising the dam wall by 8 metres and subsequent works to raise the morning glory spillway and bridge deck. These works will increase the full supply level of the dam by 6.5 metres, the dam’s capacity from 62GL to 100GL and ensure it can withstand the maximum possible flood.
Water releases will not be altered by the upgrade.
Benefits
- Improved ability of dam to withstand extreme floods
- Improved environmental outcomes.
- Stimulating local economy during the construction phase.
- Secure water supply for Tamworth.
Milestones
Stage one works
- Late 2009 review of environmental factors
- Late 2009 detail design to be completed
- Early 2010 construction to commence
- Mid 2011 expected completed date.
Stage two and augmentation works
- Mid 2011 commence detailed design for stage two and augmentation
- 2012 commence construction on stage two and augmentation
- 2014 complete upgrade and augmentation
Updates
- Environmental assessment of trial options for the upgrade and augmentation completed.
- Detailed geotechnical investigation of the proposed works completed.
- Construction on stage one works commenced 21 June 2010.
- Stage two and augmentation funding announced on 9 February 2011
- Stage one construction completed March 2011
- Contract for stage two and augmentation detailed design awarded December 2011
Fact sheet
Chaffey Dam Safety Upgrade (PDF 65kb)
Media releases
December 2011 Detailed design contract awarded for Chaffey Dam
May 2011 Students to plant Chaffey wildlife corridor (19.9kb)
March 2011 $13 million Chaffey stage one upgrade complete
February 2011 Chaffey augmentation brought forward to secure Tamworth's future water supplies (PDF 42kb)
June 2010 Chaffey construction officially starts
Contact details
Project Manager: Jubrahil Khan
Contact Details: (02) 8245 2049
