Grahamstown Dam

Dam in Ferodale, New South Wales

Grahamstown Dam

Location of the Grahamstown Dam in
New South Wales

Country| Australia
Location| Ferodale, New South Wales
Coordinates| 32°44′S 151°49′E﻿ / ﻿32.733°S 151.817°E﻿ / -32.733; 151.817
Purpose| Water supply
Status| Operational
Construction began| 1955
Opening date| 1969
Owner(s)| Hunter Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam| Embankment dam
Impounds| Off-stream
Height| 12 metres (39 ft)
Length| 4.8 km (3 mi)
Dam volume| 2,124 m3 (75,008 cu ft)
Spillways| 1
Spillway type| Controlled labyrinth spillway and baffle chute
Spillway capacity| 800 cubic metres per second (28,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates| Grahamstown Lake
Total capacity| 190,000 megalitres (6,700×10 ~~^~~ 6 cu ft)
Catchment area| 97 km2 (37 sq mi)
Surface area| 2,460 ha (6,079 acres)
Website
Hunter Water

Grahamstown Dam is a major off-stream earthfill Embankment dam with a controlled labyrinth spillway and baffle chute that stores water from the Williams River. The dam is located north of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is water supply; it provides about 40 per cent of the potable water for the Hunter Region; and is its largest drinking water supply dam.

The impounded reservoir is called Grahamstown Lake or the Grahamstown Storage Reservoir.

## Location and features[edit]

Grahamstown Dam is immediately adjacent to residential areas in the town of Raymond Terrace, less than 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Raymond Terrace CBD.

Grahamstown Dam is a major dam that receives its main inflow from the Williams River as well as its own catchment. Water flows into the Grahamstown Dam from the Williams River, upstream from the Seaham Weir, which limits the inflow of tidal seawater; via Balickera Canal and pumping station, which are used to transfer water from the Williams River to Grahamstown Dam. The Campvale Pumping Station; George Schroder Pumping Station and delivery mains are used to deliver water from the dam to the water treatment plant; and Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant.[1]

The storage was formed by building an embankment across the outlet of a natural depression known as the Grahamstown Moors. Construction began in 1955, and although all the elements of the entire scheme were not completed until 1965, water was first supplied in 1960 during the severe drought from 1960 to 1963.[1] The dam was built by the NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission on behalf of the Hunter Water Corporation to supply water to the Hunter Region.[2]

The dam wall consists of 2,124 cubic metres (75,000 cu ft) of earthfill with an internal earth core. It is 12 m (39 ft) high and 4.8 km (3 mi) long. At 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 190,000 megalitres (6,700×10 ~~^~~ 6 cu ft) of water.[3] The surface area of Grahamstown Lake is 2,460 ha (6,079 acres) and the catchment area is a relatively small 97 km2 (37 sq mi). The controlled labyrinth spillway is capable of discharging 800 cubic metres per second (28,000 cu ft/s).[2]

### Upgrade of facilities[edit]

Since the dam was completed, major modifications include:[1]

* 1973: a bentonite clay core 2.02 km (1.3 mi) in length was installed in the central section of the embankment to provide a watertight seal, the 1.5 m (5 ft) thick core has an average depth of 21.3 m (70 ft);
* 1985: the Full Supply Level of the dam was reduced from 11.1 m (36.4 ft) to 10.6 m (34.8 ft) as a temporary measure to reduce the risk of damage to the main embankment from major flooding;
* 1994: further work was undertaken to raise the level of the clay core to road level over the full length of the embankment and rock armouring of the main embankment was also undertaken; and
* 2005: the Full Supply Level was increased to 12.8 m (42 ft) and provided 50 per cent more storage capacity by constructing a spillway northeast of Raymond Terrace and a new discharge channel under the Pacific Highway.[3]

### Criticism[edit]

At the time of the proposal for the construction of a dam at Tillegra, it was claimed that Hunter Water Corporation deliberately allowed the water storage levels in Grahamstown Dam run down in order to inflate the case for the A$477 million Tillegra project.[4]

## See also[edit]

* New South Wales portal

* Irrigation in Australia
* List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Grahamstown Dam". Water & Sewer: Water Supply. Hunter Water. 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
2. ^ a b "Register of Large Dams in Australia". Dams information. The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. 2010. Archived from the original (Excel (requires download)) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
3. ^ a b "$20m Grahamstown Dam revamp complete". Australia: ABC News. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
4. ^ Hall, Louise (6 September 2010). "Dam critics cry foul over river flows in Hunter". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 May 2013.

## External links[edit]

* "Hunter River catchment" (map). Office of Environment & Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
* Barker, M. B.; Holroyde, R. M.; Williams, J.; Qiu, T. (2000). "Grahamstown Dam State 2 Augmentation Selection and Design of a Labyrinth Spillway and Baffle Chute" (PDF). GHD Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
* "Catchment Report: 2011-12" (PDF). Hunter Water Corporation. August 2012.
* "Catchment Management Plan" (PDF). Hunter Water Corporation. June 2010.

* v
* t
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Water supply in New South Wales, Australia

Dams and reservoirs
in Sydney|

* Ashfield Reservoir
* Bankstown Reservoir
* Centennial Park Reservoir
* Chatswood Reservoirs
* Crown Street Reservoir
* Penshurst Reservoirs
* Petersham Reservoir
* Pymble Reservoirs
* Upper Nepean Scheme comprising:
* Avon
* Cataract
* Cordeaux
* Nepean
* Prospect Reservoir
* Prospect Hill Reservoir
* Potts Hill Reservoirs 1 and 2
* Upper Canal System
* Guildford West pipehead and water supply canal
* Wahroonga Reservoirs
* Warragamba / Lake Burragorang
* Waverley Reservoirs
* Woollahra Reservoir
* Woronora

Sewerage and
other water infrastructure
in Sydney|

| Aqueducts|

* Cooks River
* Johnston's Creek
* Lewisham
* Mosman Bay
* Old Como
* Whites Creek
* Wolli Creek

|

Pumping stations|

* Annandale (#3)
* Camilia (#67)
* Mascot (#38)
* Rozelle (#27)
* Rushcutters Bay
* Ryde
* Sydenham Pit and Drainage (#1)
* Ultimo (#1)

Vent stacks|

* Bondi
* Burwood
* Croydon
* Lewisham
* Marrickville
* North Sydney
* Stanmore

Other infrastructure|

* Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer
* Double Bay Compressed Air Ejector Station
* Middle Harbour Syphon
* Western Outfall Main Sewer

Regional dams and
reservoirs|

* Bendeela
* Blowering
* Brogo
* Burrendong
* Burrinjuck
* Carcoar
* Cascade Creek
* Chaffey
* Chichester
* Chifley
* Clarrie Hall
* Cochrane
* Copeton
* Deep Creek
* Eucumbene
* Fitzroy Falls
* Geehi
* Glenbawn
* Glennies Creek
* Googong
* Grahamstown
* Greaves Creek
* Guthega
* Happy Jacks Pondage
* Hume
* Island Bend
* Jindabyne
* Jounama
* Keepit
* Khancoban
* Lostock
* Mangrove Creek
* Medlow Dam
* Menindee Lakes
* Murray Two
* Oberon
* Pejar
* Pindari
* Rocky Creek
* Rydal
* Shoalhaven Scheme
* Snowy Mountains Scheme
* Split Rock
* Spring Creek
* Stephens Creek
* Suma Park
* Talbingo
* Tallowa
* Tantangara
* Tareelaroi
* Tooma
* Toonumbar
* Tumut Two
* Tumut Pond
* Winburndale
* Windamere
* Wingecarribee
* Woodford Creek
* Wyangala
* Yellow Pinch

Other water sources|

* Sydney Desalination Plant

Companies and
government agencies|

* Essential Energy
* Hunter Water
* Murrumbidgee Irrigation
* Riverina Water County Council
* Sydney Water
* WaterNSW

Regulators|

* Energy & Water Ombudsman
* NSW Department of Primary Industries

Historical|

* 1998 Sydney water crisis

* Sydney Catchment Authority

* Balmain Reservoir
* Boothtown Aqueduct
* Botany Swamps
* Busby's Bore
* Lake Canobolas
* Cooks River Dam
* Gosling Creek
* Lachlan Swamps
* Liverpool Dam
* Liverpool Weir
* Lower Prospect Canal Reserve
* Manly Dam
* Mosman Bay Sewage Aqueduct
* Paddington Reservoir
* Lake Parramatta
* Tank Stream

* v
* t
* e

Towns, suburbs and localities of Port Stephens Council, New South Wales

Towns, suburbs
and localities|

* Anna Bay
* Boat Harbour
* Bobs Farm
* Brandy Hill
* Campvale
* Corlette
* Duns Creek
* Eagleton
* East Seaham
* Fern Bay
* Ferodale
* Fingal Bay
* Fishermans Bay
* Fullerton Cove
* Glen Oak
* Heatherbrae
* Hinton
* Karuah
* Lemon Tree Passage
* Mallabula
* Medowie
* Nelson Bay
* Nelsons Plains
* One Mile
* Osterley
* Raymond Terrace
* Salamander Bay
* Salt Ash
* Seaham
* Shoal Bay
* Soldiers Point
* Tanilba Bay
* Taylors Beach
* Tomago
* Wallalong
* Williamtown
* Woodville

Other places and
points of interest|

* Grahamstown Dam
* Hunter River
* Karuah River
* Newcastle Airport
* Paterson River
* Port Stephens
* RAAF Base Williamtown
* Stockton Beach
* Tomaree National Park
* Williams River

* v
* t
* e

Significant places & items of interest in the Hunter Region of New South Wales

Commerce & industry

| Industry|

* Cardiff Locomotive Workshops
* Forgacs Shipyard
* Hunter Valley Coal Chain
* Hunter Valley wine
* Kia Ora Stud
* Kooragang Island
* Newcastle Steelworks
* Newcastle Port Corporation
* Tomago aluminium smelter

|

Shopping|

* Charlestown Square
* Hunter Street
* Newcastle & Suburban Co-operative Society
* Stockland Glendale
* Stockland Green Hills
* Westfield Kotara

Other|

* Newcastle Government House

Education

| Primary|

* Avondale
* Hunter School of the Performing Arts
* Hunter Valley Grammar
* Kahibah Public
* Newcastle Grammar

|

Secondary|

* All Saints College, Maitland
* Avondale
* Callaghan College
* Jesmond Senior
* Wallsend
* Waratah Technology
* Cessnock High
* Glendale Technology High
* Hunter River High
* Hunter School of the Performing Arts
* Hunter Valley Grammar
* Irrawang High
* Kotara High
* Lambton High
* Maitland Grossmann High
* Maitland High
* Merewether High
* Mount View High
* Newcastle Grammar
* Newcastle High
* Rutherford Technology High
* St Joseph's, Lochinvar
* Tomaree High
* Toronto High

Tertiary|

* Avondale College
* University of Newcastle

Entertainment, sport & culture

* Broadmeadow Basketball Stadium
* Circuit Italia
* Dungog Film Festival
* Hunter Valley Steamfest
* Newcastle 500
* Newcastle Art Gallery
* Newcastle Civic Theatre
* Newcastle Entertainment Centre
* Newcastle International Sports Centre
* Newcastle Libraries
* Newcastle Museum
* Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground
* Newcastle Regional Show
* Newcastle Street Circuit
* Surfest

Geography

| General|

* Broughton Island
* Burning Mountain
* Cape Hawke
* Glenrock Lagoon
* Lake Chichester
* Lake Macquarie
* Myall Lakes
* Mount Royal Range
* Mount Sugarloaf
* Port Stephens
* Stockton Beach
* Tops to Myall Heritage Trail

|

National parks
and nature reserves|

* Barrington Tops
* Black Bulga State Conservation Area
* Booti Booti
* Ghin-Doo-Ee
* Mount Royal
* Myall Lakes
* Tomaree
* Towarri
* Wallingat
* Watagans
* Werakata

* The Glen

Rivers|

* Allyn
* Avon
* Barrington
* Bow
* Bylong
* Chichester
* Gloucester
* Goulburn
* Hunter
* Karuah
* Manning
* Myall
* Pages
* Paterson
* Wangat
* Williams
* Worondi Rivulet

Historical

| Air transport|

* Broadmeadow Aerodrome

|

Defence|

* Fort Scratchley
* Greta Army Camp

Education|

* Newcastle Boys' High School

General|

* Greater Newcastle Act 1937
* History of Newcastle, New South Wales
* Hunter Valley cannabis infestation
* Lake Macquarie Petrified Forest
* Maitland Gaol
* Newcastle Museum
* Nobbys Head
* Royal Newcastle Hospital
* Tahlee historic property

Industry|

* Cockle Creek Power Station
* Cockle Creek Smelter
* Rothbury riot
* South Maitland coalfields
* South Waratah Colliery
* State Dockyard
* Teralba Colliery
* Walka Water Works
* Walsh Island Dockyard & Engineering Works
* Wangi Power Station

Maritime|

* Bluebell Collision
* Cawarra shipwreck
* Maianbar shipwreck
* MV Sygna shipwreck
* Nobbys Head Light
* Point Stephens Light

Natural disasters|

* 1989 Newcastle earthquake

Rail|

| General|

* Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot
* Hunter Valley Railway Trust
* Hunter Valley Steamfest
* Murulla rail accident
* Richmond Vale Railway Museum

|

Railway lines|

* Belmont
* Morpeth
* Fernleigh Track
* Richmond Vale Railway
* South Maitland Railway
* Toronto

Railway stations|

* Allandale
* Antiene
* Belford
* Blackalls Park
* Civic
* Dingadee
* Farley
* Grasstree
* Minimbah
* Newcastle
* Ravensworth
* Toronto
* Whittingham
* Wickham

Trams|

* Trams in Newcastle
* West Wallsend Steam Tram Line

Wine making|

* Lindeman's

World War II|

* No. 2 Fighter Sector RAAF
* No. 208 Radar Station RAAF
* HMAS Assault
* Belmont Anti-Tank Ditch
* Lake Macquarie anti-submarine boom
* Newcastle Covering Force
* RAAF Base Rathmines
* Shelling of Newcastle

Infrastructure

| Transport|

| Road|

* Beaumont Street
* Bucketts Way
* Golden Highway
* Hunter Expressway
* New England Highway
* Newcastle Inner City Bypass
* Newcastle Link Road
* Pacific Highway
* Putty Road
* Sydney-Newcastle Freeway
* Thunderbolts Way

|

Road bridges|

* Beckers
* Clarence Town
* Cooreei
* Dunmore
* Fitzgerald Bridge
* Glennies Creek
* Hexham
* Hinton
* Monkerai
* Morpeth
* Stockton
* Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest
* Vacy

Railway lines|

* Main North
* Newcastle

Railway stations|

* Aberdeen
* Adamstown
* Awaba
* Beresfield
* Booragul
* Branxton
* Broadmeadow
* Cardiff
* Cockle Creek
* Dora Creek
* Dungog
* East Maitland
* Fassifern
* Greta
* Hamilton
* Hexham
* High Street
* Hilldale
* Kotara
* Lochinvar
* Maitland
* Martins Creek
* Metford
* Mindaribba
* Morisset
* Muswellbrook
* Newcastle Interchange
* Paterson
* Sandgate
* Scone
* Singleton
* Tarro
* Telarah
* Teralba
* Thornton
* Victoria Street
* Wallarobba
* Warabrook
* Waratah
* Wirragulla
* Wyee

Bus|

* Bus routes
* Busways
* Hunter Valley Buses
* Newcastle Transport
* Port Stephens Coaches
* Rover Coaches
* Sid Fogg's

Air|

* Cessnock Airport
* Maitland Airport
* Newcastle Airport
* Scone Airport

Ferry|

* Stockton ferry service

Light rail|

* Newcastle Light Rail

Utilities|

| Electricity generation|

* Bayswater Power Station
* Eraring Power Station
* Lake Liddell
* Liddell Power Station
* Redbank Power Station
* Teralba Colliery
* Vales Point Power Station

|

Water supply|

* Chichester Dam
* Glenbawn Dam
* Grahamstown Dam
* Lostock Dam
* Tillegra Dam proposal

Media

* ABC Newcastle
* Hit 106.9
* Maitland Mercury
* Newy 87.8 FM
* Nine Northern NSW
* New FM
* Port Stephens Examiner
* The Herald
* Triple M
* 2HD
* 2NUR

Other

| Defence|

* No. 26 Squadron RAAF
* RAAF Base Williamtown

|

General|

* Cessnock Correctional Centre
* Christ Church Cathedral

Health & medical research|

* Hunter Medical Research Institute
* John Hunter Hospital

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