The Koombooloomba Dam is a concrete

gravity In physics, gravity (), also known as gravitation or a gravitational interaction, is a fundamental interaction, a mutual attraction between all massive particles. On Earth, gravity takes a slightly different meaning: the observed force b ...

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...

with a

controlled spillway A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of water downstream from a dam or levee, typically into the riverbed of the dammed river itself. In the United Kingdom, they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways ensure tha ...

across the

Tully River The Tully River is a river in Far North Queensland, Australia. Course and features The Tully River rises in the Cardwell Range, part of the Great Dividing Range on the northern boundary of the Kirrama State Forest. The river flows generally n ...

, located west of and south, southeast of in

Far North Queensland Far North Queensland (FNQ) is the northernmost part of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland. Its largest city is Cairns, Queensland, Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula, which stret ...

, Australia. Built for the purpose of

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

power generation, the dam creates the

reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...

, Lake Koombooloomba.

Location and features

The dam was constructed by the

Queensland Government The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a Parliament, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, ...

Co-ordinator-General's Department in 1960. The earth rock embankment dam wall is in length and high. The reservoir has a

catchment area A catchment area in human geography, is the area from which a location, such as a city, service or institution, attracts a population that uses its services and economic opportunities. Catchment areas may be defined based on from where people are ...

of with a controlled concrete spillway that releases up to . The reservoir has a surface area of with an average depth of , and has a maximum operating level of of water. The dam and power generation facilities are owned and operated by

CleanCo Queensland CleanCo Queensland is a corporation owned by the Queensland Government in Australia. CleanCo owns and operates a range of electricity generation assets in Queensland, including run-of-the-river and pumped-storage hydroelectricity, gas-fired po ...

Hydroelectric power facilities

Built in 1957 and most recently upgraded in 2008, the underground

Kareeya Hydro Power Station The Kareeya Hydro Power Station near Tully in Queensland, Australia is a hydroelectric power station that began generating power in 1957. It has a capacity of which is fed into the National Electricity Market. The power station is owned by C ...

was the first hydroelectric

power station A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...

constructed on the Tully River. An

intake tower An intake tower or outlet tower is a vertical tubular structure with one or more openings used for capturing water from reservoirs and conveying it further to a hydroelectric or water-treatment plant. Unlike spillways, intake towers are intended ...

is located in the Tully Falls Weira regulating pond for the power stationwhich directs water down a

tunnel A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...

to the

turbine A turbine ( or ) (from the Greek , ''tyrbē'', or Latin ''turbo'', meaning vortex) is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work. The work produced can be used for generating electrical ...

s below

Tully Falls The Tully Falls, a horsetail chute waterfall on the Tully River, is located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics in the Far North region of Queensland, Australia. It formed the eastern boundary of the Dyirbal. Location and feature ...

. Kareeya has a capacity of and generates up to annually. The

Koombooloomba Hydro Power Station Koombooloomba Hydro Power Station is a hydroelectric power station at Koombooloomba Dam, Queensland, Australia. Koombooloomba has one turbo generator, with a generating capacity of of electricity. The power station is owned by CleanCo. The ...

is a dam release point situated on Koombooloomba Dam. The power station was commissioned in 1999 and has one turbo generator with a capacity of that generates up to . Its location on Koombooloomba Dam in the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

World Heritage World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

listed

Wet Tropics The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Site consists of approximately 8,940 km2 of Australian wet tropical forests growing along the north-east Queensland portion of the Great Dividing Range. The Wet Tropics of Queensland meets all f ...

area finally put into use infrastructure established when the dam was constructed in 1960.

References

{{WaterQueensland , state=autocollapse Koombooloomba, Lake Buildings and structures in Far North Queensland Dams completed in 1960 Dams in Queensland Gravity dams 1960 establishments in Australia

Location and features

Hydroelectric power facilities

See also

References