What is the Snowy Mountains Scheme for kids?
The Snowy Mountains Scheme provides hydroelectric power and irrigation water to New South Wales and Victoria. It is one of the most complex engineering projects in the world. In 2016 the Australian government added the scheme to the National Heritage List.
What is the Snowy mountain Scheme?
The Snowy Mountains Scheme is the largest hydro-electric scheme in Australia. It diverts the reliable waters of the south-flowing Snowy River, westwards, beneath the Great Dividing Range, and in doing so provides electric power and additional water for the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers to be used for irrigation.
Why did they build the Snowy mountain Scheme?
The project commenced under an Act of Federal Parliament in October 1949 with the goal of diverting the Murrumbidgee, Snowy and Tumut Rivers in south western NSW to provide irrigation water for the western side of the Great Dividing Range, and in the process generate hydro-electric power.
Where is the Snowy Mountain Scheme?
“The scheme covers an area of about 5,124 square kilometres and is located primarily within the Kosciuszko National Park in southern New South Wales.” The scheme consists of two main parts – the Snowy-Tumut Development and the Snowy-Murray Development, both of which use tunnels to divert water.
Why is the snowy mountains important?
Snowy Mountains Scheme The Snowy Mountains also feed the Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers from the Tooma River, Whites River and Yarrangobilly River. The range is perhaps best known for the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a project to dam the Snowy River, providing both water for irrigation and hydroelectricity.
Who came up with the Snowy Mountain Scheme?
The Scheme consists of sixteen major dams; nine power stations; two pumping stations; and 225 kilometres (140 mi) of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts that were constructed between 1949 and 1974. The Scheme was completed under the supervision of Chief Engineer, Sir William Hudson.
What were some concerns about the Snowy Mountain Scheme?
Erosion was the only environmental concern that was raised independently throughout the planning process, with other concerns such as water use reserved for inter-state rivalry. Erosion due to human intervention was already a major problem in the Snowy Mountains.