Gordon Dam
{{Short description|Dam in South West Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Gordon Dam
| name_official =
| image = Gordon Dam, Southwest National Park, Tasmania.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = The double arch wall of Gordon Dam holding back Lake Gordon
| location_map = Australia Tasmania
| location_map_size = 280
| location_map_caption = Location in Tasmania
| location_map_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|42|43|50|S|145|58|35|E|display=inline,title|type:landmark}}
| country = Australia
| location = South West Tasmania
| purpose = P
| status = O
| construction_began = 1964
| opening = 1978
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner = Hydro Tasmania
| operator =
| dam_type = A
| dam_crosses = Gordon River
| dam_height = {{Convert|140|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_height_foundation =
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_length = {{Convert|198|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_elevation_crest = 310 m above sea level
| dam_width_crest = {{convert|2.75|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_base = {{Convert|17.7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_volume = {{Convert|154|e3m3|0|abbr=on}}
| spillway_count = no spillway on Lake Gordon, spill is via Lake Pedder at serpentine dam (250 cubic meters/second)
| spillway_type = Controlled
| res_name = Lake Gordon
| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|12.4|km3|mi3|1|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active =
| res_capacity_inactive =
| res_catchment = {{convert|1280|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}
| res_surface = {{Convert|278|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}
| res_max_length =
| res_max_width =
| res_max_depth =
| res_elevation =
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_name = Gordon Power Station
| plant_coordinates = {{coord|42|43|48|S|145|58|12|E|type:landmark}}
| plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania
| plant_commission = 1978; 1988
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type = C
| plant_hydraulic_head =
| plant_turbines = 3 Fuji x {{convert|144|MW|0|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity = {{convert|432|to|450|MW|0|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity_factor = 0.9
| plant_annual_gen = {{convert|1388|GWh|0|abbr=on}}
| website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/}}
| extra = {{cite web|url=http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|format=Excel (requires download)|title=Register of Large Dams in Australia|publisher=Australian National Committee on Large Dams|year=2010|access-date=23 June 2015|work=Dams information|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|url-status=dead}}
}}
The Gordon Dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, is a major gated double curvature concrete arch dam with a controlled spillway across the Gordon River, located in Southwest National Park, Tasmania, Australia. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Gordon.
The dam was constructed in 1974 by the Hydro Electric Corporation for the purpose of generating hydroelectricity via the conventional Gordon Power Station located below the dam wall.{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Gordon_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |title=Gordon Power Station Fact Sheet: Technical fact sheet |work=Energy: Our power stations |publisher=Hydro Tasmania |access-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324111003/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/attachments/Gordon_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}[http://web.archive.org/web/20220821083524/https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf The Hydro after 100 Years] EHA Magazine March 2015 page 19
Features and location
The Gordon Dam wall, constructed with {{convert|154|e3m3}} of concrete, is {{convert|198|m}} long and {{convert|140|m}} high, making it the tallest dam in Tasmania and the fifth-tallest in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ancold.org.au/images/Table%20II.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706124033/http://www.ancold.org.au/images/Table%20II.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 July 2011 |title=Australia's Highest Dams |publisher=The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated |quote=The five tallest dams listed in order of decreasing height are: Dartmouth Dam, {{convert|180|m}}, Victoria; Thomson River Dam, {{convert|166|m}}, Victoria; Talbingo Dam, {{convert|162|m}}, NSW; Warragamba Dam, {{convert|142|m}}, NSW; Gordon Dam, {{convert|140|m}}, Tasmania |access-date=7 April 2008 }} At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back {{convert|12359040|e3m3}} of water; making Lake Gordon the largest lake in Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/portal/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/HRP.Gordon%20Dam.Nomination%20with%20Images.Nov%202000.pdf |title=Gordon Dam, Tasmania: Submission for an National Engineering Landmark |publisher=Engineers Australia |date=September 2000 |access-date=23 July 2017 }} The surface area of the lake is {{convert|27800|ha}} and the catchment area is {{convert|2014|km2}}. The single controlled spillway is capable of discharging {{convert|175|m3/s}}.
Approximately 48 arch dams have been built in Australia and only nine have double curvature. Gordon Dam is almost twice the height of the next highest arch dam, Tumut Pondage.{{rp|5–6}}
=Power station=
{{main|Gordon Power Station}}
Water from the dam descends {{Convert|183|m}} underground into its power station, where three {{convert|144|MW|adj=on}} turbines generate up to {{convert|432|MW}} of power, covering about 13% of the electricity demand of Tasmania.{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/handson/grpd/ |title=The Gordon Catchment |publisher=Hydro Tasmania }}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The first two turbines were commissioned in 1978, before the third was commissioned a decade later in 1988.{{cite web |url=https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/shado/Divisions/Tasmania%20Division/Engineering%20Heritage%20Tas/GordonDamPlaque_Jan07.pdf |title=Gordon Dam: National Engineering Landmark |format=plaque |publisher=Engineers Australia |access-date=22 June 2015 }}
The power station is fueled by water from Lake Gordon. Water from Lake Pedder is also drawn into Lake Gordon through the McPartlans Pass Canal at {{Coord|42|50|51|S|146|11|45|E|name=McPartlans Pass Canal}}.
History
In 1963, the federal government provided a $5 million grant to Tasmania's Hydro-Electric Commission to build the Gordon River Road from Maydena into the Gordon River area in the South West Wilderness region.{{cite book |author=Thompson, Peter |date=1981 |title=Power In Tasmania |publisher=Australian Conservation Foundation |isbn=0-85802-064-5 |page=19 }} Construction was underway by 1964, and within three years, the Tasmanian State Parliament approved the Gordon River Power Development with little in-house opposition in 1967. Power operation began in 1978; a third generator was added in 1988.
The completed Gordon Dam was the only dam built on the Gordon River, despite the support of Tasmanian politicians such as Eric Reece, Robin Gray, and others to build the Franklin Dam further downstream. The construction of Gordon Dam resulted in some flooding of the connected Lake Pedder as planned. Subsequent opposition to restore Lake Pedder failed after a Parliamentary inquiry in 1995.{{cite web|title=Gordon - Pedder Energy|url=https://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/gordon-pedder|website=www.hydro.com.au|publisher=Hydro Tasmania|access-date=8 February 2017}}
The dam was designed with Sergio Guidici as the chief engineer. He went on to be involved with the design of the Crotty Dam in the West Coast Range, one of the last significant dams created by Hydro Tasmania during its dam-building era.
The dam is connected with the Gordon River Power Station, {{convert|183|m}} under the surface of the switch yard.{{cite news|url=http://www.hydro100.com.au/timeline-story/gordon-river-underground-power-station/ |title=The Gordon River Underground Power Station |first=Clif |last=Townsend |work=Hyrdo 100|publisher=Hydro Tasmania |date=14 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015}}
In 2015, the Perth-based{{cite web|url=https://www.howridiculous.org/|title=How Ridiculous|access-date=2025-04-11}} YouTube channel How Ridiculous broke the world record for the world's highest basketball shot at Gordon dam, though this record has since been surpassed by How Ridiculous themselves twice over.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9SF2YIKRY8 WORLD RECORD Basketball Shot 126.5m (415 ft) - How Ridiculous
= 2015–2016 Tasmanian energy crisis =
{{Main article|2016 Tasmanian energy crisis}}
Due to an extreme drought in 2015 and the untimely failure of the related Basslink connector, electricity production needs had drained the lake to its minimum operating level in March 2016.{{cite web|title=What caused the 2015/16 energy challenge in Tasmania?|url=https://www.hydro.com.au/energy/energy-supply-situation-and-response/frequently-asked-questions|website=www.hydro.com.au|publisher=Hydro Tasmania|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627081519/http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/energy-supply-situation-and-response/frequently-asked-questions|archive-date=27 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last1=Denholm|first1=Matthew|title=Fighting to keep Tasmania's lights on in energy crisis|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/fighting-to-keep-tasmanias-lights-on-in-energy-crisis/news-story/38e96f65902d08f1e894bd0d42d29377|access-date=8 February 2017|publisher=The Australian|date=15 March 2016}} The water level fell 45 metres to a record low of six per cent capacity.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-31/lake-gordon-dam-level-fall-captured-in-dramatic-video/7289020|title=Tasmanian energy crisis: Lake Gordon dam level fall captured in dramatic video |first=Emilie|last=Gramenz|publisher=ABC News|date=31 March 2016 |access-date=7 February 2017}} Pictures document the dramatic effect.{{cite news|last1=AAP|title=Stark images reveal dire state of falling water level|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/stark-images-reveal-dire-state-of-falling-water-level/news-story/fbd9e9a901be26226188779300156f4a|access-date=8 February 2017|publisher=The Mercury|date=29 March 2016}} After repair of Basslink and record rainfalls, Lake Gordon levels had recovered to -28 metres by January 2017.{{cite web|title=Lake Gordon at Intake|url=https://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/water-storage/Web_Lakes_GORDON.pdf|website=Hydro Tasmania|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075259/https://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/water-storage/Web_Lakes_GORDON.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
Engineering heritage award
The dam is listed as a National Engineering Landmark by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.{{cite web| url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/gordon-dam-gordon-river-1974| title = Gordon Dam, Gordon River, 1974-| publisher = Engineers Australia| access-date = 2020-04-27}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Gordon Dam bridge
| carries = Pedestrians{{cite web|url=http://www.discovertasmania.com/activities__and__attractions/wilderness_areas/national_parks_and_reserves/southwest_national_park|title=Southwest National Park|access-date=21 May 2009|archive-date=7 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607115617/http://www.discovertasmania.com/activities__and__attractions/wilderness_areas/national_parks_and_reserves/southwest_national_park|url-status=dead}}
| width = {{Convert|2.7|m}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{GordonPowerDevelopment}}
{{EnergyTasmania|state=collapsed}}
{{Western Tasmania |state=autocollapse}}
Category:Dams completed in 1978
Category:Gordon River power development scheme
Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers