The Spill

The second and final stage of the $31 million Murchison Dam upgrade project is complete! The two staged project was undertaken to improve flood capacity.

 

The project focused on future proofing critical infrastructure to ensure it is prepared to handle extreme rainfall events on Tasmania’s west coast.  

Stage one of the works saw the crest wall raised by three metres and was completed in 2020. Stage 2 focused on a spillway upgrade that saw the right chute wall raised by up to five metres to improve containment of spillway flows. This was completed completed in February 2025, with some impressive stats!

• 36 months of upgrade works

• 375 tonnes of steel reinforcement

• 2x 250-tonne capacity cranes

• 100 Hydro Tasmania crew and contractors, including our consulting arm Entura

“The upgrade significantly increases the dam’s flood capacity and represents our long-term commitment to keeping our Tasmanian communities safe.”

Project Manager Yossi Levkovitch

“We understand extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, and we need to optimise and modernise our hydropower network to provide the best service today and into the future,” Yossi said. 

The successful completion of the project was not without its challenges.  

Teams battled the wet and windy weather known along the west coast of Tasmania, as well as natural hazards, live spillway, and a tricky location that required logistical changes.  

“The dam is wedged into Murchison Gorge in a remote location. It’s subject to the wild weather of Tasmania’s north-west coast and is prone to spill on an annual basis,” Yossi said. 

“There is high risk of rockfall and treefall onsite, and above all, there is also the challenge of placing 1,600 cubic metres of concrete on an area that is difficult to access, at great heights and on a steep slope. These challenges made this project so unique and interesting!

Yossi said that the project had a fantastic team of experienced individuals, with up to 100 internal and external people across the project lifecycle.

“We all worked collaboratively and were able to implement smart solutions for the challenges we faced. 

“It has been a huge undertaking, but the end result is a piece of infrastructure that has significantly improved flood capacity, reliability and safety.” 

Quick facts: 

• Murchison Dam was completed in 1982. 

• It is located 5km from the township of Tullah on the west coast of Tasmania.  

• The dam rises 93 metres above the valley floor, is 200 metres long and is wedged into the chasm of Murchison Gorge.