Lake Dunstan

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Lake Dunstan is located in the South Island of New Zealand.

The lake was formed on the Clutha River as a result of the construction of the Clyde Dam during the 1990s. Parts of the town of Cromwell were relocated to a new area above the new lake.

Lake Dunstan provides irrigation for nearby stone fruit orchards and vineyards, and is a major recreational asset, with facilities for boating waterskiing, fishing, parapenting, and rowing.

The dam and lake became well known in New Zealand due to media coverage of the geological problems during its construction. While the dam was being built at least one landslide ocurred at Cairnmuir, a series of bluffs overlooking the gorge where the dam was built. All parties involved denied responsibility for not finding the problem and much entertainment ensued.

Because of the expense of stabilising the gorge walls and the changing economic climate, this was also the last of Robert Muldoon's Think Big projects.