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
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
,
Australia. The sole purpose of the dam is for the generation of
hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined a ...
.
The impounded
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including control ...
is called the Splityard Creek Reservoir.
Location and features
The dam is located northwest of in the
Somerset Region
The Somerset Region is a local government area located in the West Moreton region of South East Queensland, Australia, about northwest of Brisbane and centred on the town of Esk. It was created in 2008 from a merger of the Shire of Esk and ...
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.
The rock and earthfill dam structure is high and long. The dam wall holds back the reservoir when at full capacity. From a
catchment area
In human geography, a catchment area 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 ar ...
of , the dam creates a reservoir with a surface area of . The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of .
[ Transferred to CleanCo Queensland in October 2019.
]
Power station
Owned b
CleanCo Queensland
and operated by CS Energy
CS Energy is an Australia-based electricity generating company fully owned by the Government of Queensland with its head office located in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. The company was established in 1997 and employs more than 500 staff. Jim So ...
, 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.
Recreation
Public access including swimming is banned from the dam due to strong currents and submerged hazards.
See also
* List of dams in Queensland
* Wivenhoe Dam
* Wivenhoe Power Station
References
External links
CS Energy
{{WaterQueensland , state=autocollapse
Reservoirs in Queensland
Buildings and structures in Somerset Region
Dams in Queensland
Dams completed in 1980
Energy infrastructure completed in 1980
1980 establishments in Australia
Embankment dams
Rock-filled dams
Earth-filled dams