A massive new dam wall will be built to help get the $2 billion Snowy 2.0 hydro power project underway - with guarantees irrigators on the Murrumbidgee will not be affected.
Some details of the pumped hydro scheme initiated by the Turnbull Government in an attempt to ease the energy crisis have been revealed.
Everything about the new Snowy project is big. Sources say it is almost “90 per cent sure” the project will go ahead, as a feasibility study is conducted into the four-year project. That study is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Even though the pumped hydro idea was conceived in the 1980s, Snowy Hydro have been looking at it seriously for the last 10 years, and are well ahead on the logistics needed to get the project constructed on time.
The most probable form for the scheme will be three new mountain tunnels linking Tantangara Dam in the north of Kosciuszko Park, to Talbingo reservoir, about 9km away. The tunnels would be built from one dam to the other with a fall of over 600m to help drive a new Snowy Hydro turbine. To enable the project to proceed a new dam wall would be built within the existing Tantangara Dam, as tunnelling starts and to create pondage for the hydro pumping. Snowy Hydro is adamant no irrigation water releases from Tantangara, at the headwaters of the Murrumbidgee, will be affected by the project. Some have even suggested more releases will be possible over time.
Investigations are underway to purchase a massive tunnel boring machine, probably from Germany. Originally an 8-metre diameter bore head was thought of, but a 16m diameter head has not been ruled out. Although both Tumut and Cooma economies will benefit from the new scheme, Cooma will be the base for Snowy 2.0.
The project was discarded back in the ‘80s because it didn’t stack up, but now it makes commercial sense. It is believed although touted as a $2bn government project, Snowy Hydro will source at least $1bn for the project that will involve more than 500 workers.
The water will be “pumped” at various times up and down the tunnel to create electricity for the national grid. It could provide up to two and half weeks of energy to Australia - at the moment the Snowy only chimes into the national grid at select peak times and a proposed new gas power project in South Australia looks like a minnow compared to the Snowy scheme.
One of the big issues will be what will happen to the mass of rock fill from the tunnelling, and how will it be removed without damage to the National Park. It will more than likely end up as road base. Snowy Hydro were unavailable for comment.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
