Roxburgh Dam

Roxburgh Dam

Roxburgh Dam machine hall
Location of Roxburgh Dam
Location Central Otago, New Zealand
Coordinates 45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°ECoordinates: 45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°E
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Concrete gravity dam
Impounds Clutha River / Mata-Au
Height 76 m (249 ft)
Length 358 m (1,175 ft)
Width (crest) 10.7 m (35 ft)
Width (base) 61 m (200 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Lake Roxburgh
Surface area 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Power station
Commission date 1956 - 1962
Turbines 8
Installed capacity 320 MW (430,000 hp)
Annual generation 1,650 GWh (5,900 TJ)


The Roxburgh Dam is the earliest of the large hydroelectric projects in the southern South Island of New Zealand. It lies across the Clutha River / Mata-Au, some 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Dunedin, some 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the north of the town of Roxburgh. The settlement of Lake Roxburgh Village close to the western edge of the dam.

Construction

The dam was constructed by a joint venture company between Holland, Hannen & Cubitts of the UK and S A Conrad Zschokke of Switzerland between 1949 and 1953.[1] Because of a lack of performance the initial contract was closed in 1953 and a new contract in which the original two companies were joined by Downer, a New Zealand construction company completed the main construction of the Station in 1957. The power station was commissioned over the period 1956-1962.

Roxburgh power station

The generating capacity was doubled in 1961-62. Today the eight-unit power station has a capacity of 320 megawatts (430,000 hp) operated by Contact Energy.[2]

Lake Roxburgh

Lake Roxburgh, the lake formed behind the dam, extends for nearly 30 kilometres (19 mi) towards the town of Alexandra.

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading