Hydro Tasmania has completed a A$35.5m upgrade of Edgar Dam in Tasmania, finishing the project four months ahead of schedule.
Located in the remote southwest of Tasmania within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the project was undertaken to strengthen the dam’s seismic resilience and further reduce the already low risk associated with a major earthquake on the nearby Lake Edgar Fault. The project was delivered in partnership with Hydro Tasmania’s consulting arm, Entura, with Tasmanian civil construction company Hall Earthmoving serving as the head contractor.
The main construction works included the installation of a filter buttress along the downstream face of the dam, supported by a new crest wall and sealing works on the upstream side. The project concludes more than a decade of planning, investigation, design and delivery.
Hydro Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Rachel Watson said: “Completing the Edgar Dam upgrade four months ahead of schedule is an outstanding result and reflects the skill, commitment and collaboration of Hall Earthmoving and the project team.
“This upgrade ensures Edgar Dam is even more resilient in the extremely unlikely event of a major earthquake.”
Watson said the project also delivered economic benefits for the state: “We’re particularly proud that more than 95 per cent of the project budget was spent in Tasmania through local contractors, suppliers and specialist expertise.
“Projects like this support local jobs, skills and businesses while delivering long-term benefits for Tasmania’s renewable energy future.”
Hydro Tasmania said the project incorporated environmental controls to protect the surrounding Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The project was referred under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with mitigation measures including vehicle and machinery washdown facilities, restrictions on driving at certain times to protect threatened species, and water quality monitoring and management.
“Working in such a sensitive environment required careful planning and a strong commitment to protecting the World Heritage Area’s natural values,” Watson said. “Our team and contractors have demonstrated that major infrastructure projects can be delivered responsibly while maintaining strong environmental standards.”
With construction complete, the remaining work will focus on demobilisation and the reinstatement and rehabilitation of the Edgar Dam campground.
