Tarraleah redevelopment
Engagement Specialist
Phone 0457 237 453
Email projectengagement@hydro.com.au
Project milestones
Project background
Sitting at the top of the Derwent hydropower scheme, Tarraleah is one of our oldest and most recognisable assets, with a network of canals and 6 enormous penstocks that transport water 290m down to Tarraleah Station in the Nive Valley. Tarraleah's labyrinth of tunnels, canals and pipes were an engineering triumph that have supplied Tasmanians with dependable energy for more than 80 years.
In today's electricity market (called the NEM), the demand for clean energy from wind and solar is rising and so is the need for a way to fill the gaps when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. That's where hydropower comes in! We're looking at how we can adapt our assets - including Tarraleah - to make sure they're ready to meet these new needs.
With support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, we investigated how to reimagine the scheme, to make it better suited to deliver what the future electricity market will need. Our study showed the scheme could be redeveloped to increase capacity and flexibility - all valuable requirements in future.
Project overview
The Tarraleah scheme was a visionary project built in the 1930s. It has been generating clean energy for more than 85 years. It plays an important role in Tasmania’s energy system, generating 7.3% of Tasmania’s energy every year. The scheme is approaching the end of its operational life, and there is no ‘do nothing’ option. After carefully reviewing several options, we determined that fully redeveloping the scheme would provide the most value to Tasmania.
Here’s a quick look at what’s proposed at Cethana:
- Building a new, higher capacity power station to replace the existing station
- Replacing the old existing canals and penstocks with a new pressurised pipeline and tunnels to carry water
- Connecting the new pipeline to a new water intake being constructed at Lake King William
- New transmission infrastructure
- Retaining the historic power station in its original location.
The map below shows the proposed project layout and where major infrastructure would be built. To make the diagram larger, just right click and select 'open in a new tab".
I'm interested in
Traffic on the Lyell Highway
Area of interest: impact of construction traffic.
Construction will generate additional traffic movements on the Lyell Highway and short delays. A Traffic Impact Assessment is underway to quantify potential impacts on the road network and identify how impacts can be managed.
Wildlife
Area of interest: potential increase in risks to wildlife due to increased traffic movements.
This was identified as a potential impact as part of our studies and we will adopt measures to minimise impacts on all wildlife through our environmental mitigation strategies.
Access to lakes for recreation
Area of interest: impact on water-based recreation activities.
There will be no change to existing public access to lakes in the Tarraleah scheme for activities such as fishing and boating. For safety and operational needs, a new exclusion zone will be created around the new Lake King William intake.
Storage levels and river flows
Area of interest: potential impacts on the Derwent River and lake storage levels.
We’ve done extensive water modelling, including modelling of River Derwent flows and water levels of scheme storages. The existing operational range of storages will not change. Hydro Tasmania is investigating flow releases below Clark Dam, to maintain downstream environmental values.
Cultural heritage
Area of interest: respecting and listening to Tasmanian Aboriginal communities.
We are very interested in acknowledging and respecting the cultural heritage values and connections of First Nations peoples to the area. We are working to develop culturally sensitive ways of listening to, working with First Nations peoples, and planning for outcomes in this important area.
World Heritage values
Area of interest: potential impacts on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA).
A range of studies has shown the project won’t significantly impact the natural and cultural heritage values of the TWWHA. We’ve done a visual impact assessment to look at how infrastructure (such as the surge tower) will sit in the landscape and how the construction footprint may be viewed from the TWWHA. Overall, the visual impact is considered low.
Historic values
Area of interest: history of the scheme and what is planned for the original Tarraleah assets.
Working closely with Heritage Tasmania, the community and stakeholders, we’re looking into how heritage buildings and assets might be re-used in future to ensure heritage values are protected and preparing a decommissioning plan for infrastructure no longer required.
Benefits sharing
Area of interest: building economic, social and environmental resilience.
We’re committed to ensuring local communities and businesses can benefit from the project. Social procurement and local content requirements are being developed and we’re working with community, business and government stakeholders to identify initiatives that could provide economic, social and environmental benefits. We encourage you to get involved!
Workforce accommodation
Area of interest: future use of Tarraleah village and accommodation for the construction workforce.
We recently purchased the village and it will remain open to the public until its full capacity is needed for the construction workforce, alongside new accommodation. During construction, there will be changes in access in and around the village.
In late January, construction and maintenance works started on the Tarraleah Scheme.
To ensure public safety, Butlers Gorge Road (from the Lyell Highway turnoff) will be closed 24/7 from Tuesday 27 January to the end of March. Mossy Marsh Dam, Clark Dam, the lookout and the boat ramp won’t be accessible during this period.
The Lake King William campground also remains closed.
Business opportunities
We know that our projects can provide opportunities for suitably qualified and experienced suppliers, contractors, subcontractors, consultants and other service providers. This may either be directly or indirectly.
We are committed to ensuring Tasmanian and First Nations participation. Utilising the Industry Capability Network (ICN) Tasmania is a central part of our approach to achieve this.
We’ll also have targets for local content, participation and skills and training development when we get to the construction contract stage.
At this early stage in the procurement process, we are encouraging businesses to register with the Industry Capability Network (ICN) Tasmania and set up a company profile, to be ready for future opportunities on our major projects
Head here to register. The basic package is free! https://icn.org.au/icn-tas
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