Chaffey Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with an uncontrolled ''morning glory'' spillway across the Peel River, located upstream of the city of Tamworth, in the

New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian province ...

region of

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. The dam's purpose includes

flood mitigation In environmental engineering, the flood mitigation involves the management and control of flood water movement, such as redirecting flood run-off through the use of floodwalls and flood gates, rather than trying to prevent floods altogether. It a ...

irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been dev ...

water supply Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. T ...

, and water conservation.

Location and features

Commenced in August 1976 and completed in September 1979, the Chaffey Dam is a minor dam on the Peel River, a tributary of the Namoi River, approximately north of

Nundle Nundle is a village in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. It was formerly the centre of Nundle Shire, but most of this area, including the village of Nundle, was absorbed into Tamworth Regional Council in 2004. The village ...

and south-east of Tawmorth. Water from the dam is released directly into the Peel River which is used by irrigators downstream of the dam, and for water supply of the city of Tamworth. The dam wall comprises of rock fill is high 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 dam uses an unusual concrete ''morning glory'' bell-shaped uncontrolled spillway which is capable of discharging . The spillway measures in diameter and tapers down to . The spillway tower is high. Chaffey Dam provides valuable public recreation including swimming, sailing, boating and fishing.

Upgrade of facilities

An 13 million upgrade of Chaffey Dam commenced during 2010 that involved the construction of a auxiliary spillway with release plug, funded by the Government of New South Wales and was completed in early 2011. A second stage A$43.33 million augmentation commenced in 2013, funded by the

Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government ...

, the NSW Government and

Tamworth Regional Council Tamworth Regional Council is a local government area in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The area under administration is located adjacent to the New England Highway and the Main North railway line. It was established in ...

. This augmentation is expected to be completed during 2014 and involves raising the dam wall by and subsequent works to raise the ''morning glory'' spillway and bridge deck. These works will increase the full supply level of the dam by , the dam's capacity from to and ensure it can withstand the maximum possible flood. The project also involves a realignment of roads on the western foreshore; the Tamworth-Nundle Road, and River Road.

Etymology

The dam is named in honor of Frank Chaffey, who represented Tamworth in the

New South Wales Legislative Assembly The New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the lower of the two houses of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The upper house is the New South Wales Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House ...

between 1913 and 1940, and his son, Bill, who represented the same seat between 1940 and 1973.

Gallery

Chaffeydam.jpg, Chaffey Dam as viewed from lookout on Nundle Road, 2008. Chaffey Dam 21042018.jpg, Lower section of wall, April 2018. Chaffey Dam Spillway 21042018.jpg, Spillway post upgrade, April 2018.

References

External links