11 November 2025
Built in 1972, Edgar Dam is part of the mighty Gordon-Pedder hydropower scheme which provides up to 13% of Tasmania’s power. It is the largest water storage in Australia and its inter-seasonal capacity helps drought-proof the state’s energy system! The upgrade is well underway and expected to be completed in the second half of 2026.
This project is being done in partnership with our consulting arm Entura. Tasmanian civil construction company Hall Earthmoving has been contracted to carry out the majority of the upgrade works.
Around 20 local businesses are also involved in the project, covering services like earthworks, vegetation management, building materials, environmental services, civil construction and trades.
Our project director for the Edgar Dam upgrade, Aaron McCreath, said the use of local contractors and suppliers had employed about 60 Tasmanians either part-time or fulltime.
“We’re incredibly proud that so much of our investment in Edgar Dam has been returned to Tasmanian businesses,” said Aaron.
"Our commitment to support local businesses is also consistent with the Tasmanian Government's Buy Local Policy."
The Duggans Project Team with Hall Earthmoving Director Chris Hall and Project Engineer Jason Ward.
Duggans, a third-generation Tasmanian family business based in the Huon Valley, provided the concrete casting for the dam’s wave wall, which is made up of 178 2.5-metre-high sections. The wave wall will provide additional protection from waves that could occur during a large seismic event.
Duggans’ project manager for the Edgar upgrade, Patrick Duggan, said the team recently completed the final pour.
“Since we started in May, we’ve poured two wave walls every day – rain, hail or snow we have not missed a single pour,” said Patrick.
Patrick’s grandfather Harry Duggan founded the business in 1927 when he purchased his first truck for building the local roadways.
“We’ve been working with the Hydro for many years, from back when the dams at Strathgordon were being built.”
Mr Duggan said the business had a dynamic team working on the project, including a couple of their own Duggan family members.
Workskills Tasmania offers the ‘Transition to Work’ program, for young people in the community who need extra support. The program was designed to highlight different career and job opportunities that some people might not know about. We teamed up with Workskills Tasmania to bring this program to Hydro Tasmania power station and construction sites!
The second day of the program took participants to Edgar Dam, part of the Gordon-Pedder hydropower scheme in the wild South-West. Participants shadowed professionals from Hydro Tasmania and Halls Earthmoving, gaining experience in a range of roles from dam maintenance and civil construction to environmental management and drone flying.
Read the full blog here.
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