{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox dam | name = Chifley Dam | name_official = Ben Chifley Dam | image = BenChifleyDamWall.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Ben Chifley Dam | image_alt = | location_map = New South Wales | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = Location of the Ben Chifley Dam<br />in New South Wales | coordinates = {{coord|33|33|22|S|149|38|12|E|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=inline,title}} | country = Australia | location = Central West, New South Wales | purpose = Water supply | status = O | construction_began = 1948 | opening = 1956 | demolished = | cost = | operator = Bathurst Regional Council | dam_type = E | dam_height = {{convert|34.4|m}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = {{convert|455|m}} | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = {{convert|104|m}} | dam_volume = | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_crosses = Campbells River | spillway_count = Two | spillway_type = Concrete side channel spillways, with a six bay auxiliary spillway | spillway_capacity = {{convert|9800|m3/s}} | res_name = Chifley Dam | res_capacity_total = {{convert|30800|ML}} | res_capacity_active = {{convert|26000|ML}} | res_capacity_inactive= {{convert|4800|ML}} | res_catchment = {{convert|960|km2}} | res_surface = {{convert|2.2|ha}} | res_elevation = | res_max_depth = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | website = {{URL|http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/1335-ben-chifley-dam.html|www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au}} | extra = }}
'''Ben Chifley Dam''', or '''Chifley Dam''', is a rock and earth-fill embankment dam across the Campbells River in the central west region of New South Wales, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is to supply potable water to the city of Bathurst.
The dam is named in honour of Ben Chifley, a former Prime Minister of Australia, Member for Macquarie and resident of Bathurst.
==Location and features== The dam is located {{convert|17|km}} upstream of Bathurst. Water is released into the Campbells River which flows into the Macquarie River before being captured at the water treatment facility at Gorman's Hill, a suburb of Bathurst.
The dam wall is {{convert|34.4|m}} high and {{convert|455|m}} long and holds back {{convert|30800|ML}} of water when at full capacity. The surface area of the reservoir is {{convert|2.2|ha}} and the catchment area is {{convert|960|km2}}.<ref name=ancold>{{cite web|url=http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|format=Excel (requires download)|title=Register of Large Dams in Australia|publisher=The Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated|year=2010|access-date=24 April 2013|work=Dams information|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212120804/http://www.ancold.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dams-Australia-2010-v1-for-website.xls|url-status=dead}}</ref> The {{convert|455|m}} long uncontrolled side-channel concrete spillway and six plug auxiliary fuse plug spillway<ref name="BCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/1335-ben-chifley-dam.html |title=Chifley Dam – General Information |work=Environment: Water |publisher=Bathurst Regional Council |access-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421113948/http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/1335-ben-chifley-dam.html |archive-date=21 April 2013 }}</ref> has a discharge capacity of {{convert|9800|m3/s}}.<ref name=ancold /> With an average daily inflow of around {{convert|35|ML}} per day, as at April 2013, filtered water consumption averaged {{convert|18.9|ML}}, with a further {{convert|8.4|ML}} of treated water returned to the Macquarie River.<ref name="BCC1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/1435-chifley-dam-details.html|title=Chifley Dam details|work=Environment: Water|publisher=Bathurst Regional Council|date=9 April 2013|access-date=11 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421114022/http://www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/1435-chifley-dam-details.html|archive-date=21 April 2013}}</ref>
===History=== Construction of Ben Chifley Dam started in 1948 and was completed eight years later. It was officially opened by the Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill on 10 November 1956.<ref name="BCC" /> The dam then succeeded Winburndale Dam as the potable-water supply for Bathurst. Winburndale Dam had been built in 1934 with an expected life of 20 years. Since completion of Ben Chifley Dam, Winburndale has been used to supply raw water for park watering and industrial use.
Plans to upgrade the Ben Chifley Dam commenced in 1989 after it was realised it did not meet the New South Wales Dam Safety Committee's safety recommendations and could fail in the event of a severe flood. A flood in August 1998, the worst recorded in 175 years, caused water to run over the spillway at a depth of {{convert|2.74|m|ft}}, just {{convert|0.1|m|ft}} below the level at which the wall was expected to fail. An evacuation plan was implemented downstream.<ref>[http://www.disasters.ema.gov.au/Browse%20Details/DisasterEventDetails.aspx?DisasterEventID=268 AG.EMADDB.Public.Website<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706121448/http://www.disasters.ema.gov.au/Browse%20Details/DisasterEventDetails.aspx?DisasterEventID=268 |date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>
Construction to upgrade the dam started in 1999. The top of the wall was raised by {{convert|5.4|m|ft}} and the spillway was extended by {{convert|30|m|ft}}, increasing the dam's capacity from {{convert|16000|ML}} to {{convert|30800|ML}}.
==Gallery== <gallery> BenChifleyDamSpillway.jpg|Water flowing over the upgraded spillway BenChifleyDamStorage.jpg|The reservoir impounded by Ben Chifley Dam at full capacity </gallery>
==See also== {{stack|{{portal|New South Wales}}}} * List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales * Winburndale Dam
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/MacquarieBogan/maplg.htm|title=Macquarie-Bogan River catchment|format=map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=Government of New South Wales}}
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Category:Bathurst, New South Wales Category:Embankment dams Category:Dams completed in 1956 Category:Central West (New South Wales) Category:Dams in New South Wales