Lake Binney Dam

{{Short description|Power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Lake Binney Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = 280 | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 280 | location_map_caption = Location of Lake Binney in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|42|15|36|S|146|29|24|E|region:AU-TAS_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | country = Australia | location = [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]], [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1953}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = E | dam_crosses = Big Marsh Creek | dam_height = {{cvt|10|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|1262|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|192|e3m3}} | spillway_count = ''none'' | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = Tungatinah Lagoon | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|26420|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|52|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|40.9|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|652|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Tungatinah Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|42|17|49|S|146|27|24|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | plant_commission = {{start date|1953}}{{endash}}{{start date|1956}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = C | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|290|m}} | plant_turbines = 5 x {{cvt|25|MW}}<br />{{small|(Boving [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]])}} | plant_capacity = {{cvt|125|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.8 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|579|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/tungatinah-power-station|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}

The '''Lake Binney Dam''' is an earth-faced rockfill [[embankment dam]] across Big Marsh Creek, part of the [[River Derwent (Tasmania)|Upper River Derwent]] catchment, located in the [[Central Highlands (Tasmania)|Central Highlands]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1953, the resultant [[reservoir]], Lake Binney, was one of the several dams and canals established for the purpose of generating [[hydroelectricity]] via the '''Tungatinah Power Station''', a [[Hydroelectricity#Conventional (dams)|conventional]] hydroelectric [[power station]].

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].

== Dam and reservoir overview == The earth-faced [[rock-filled dam]] wall is {{convert|10|m}} high and {{convert|1262|m}} long. When full, Lake Binney has capacity of {{convert|26000|ML|acre.ft}} and covers {{convert|400|ha}}, draw from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|52|km2}}. The dam does not have a [[spillway]].<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=2026-03-05 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 271}}</ref>

Lake Binney is part of the Brady Chain of Lakes, a series of lakes and other waterways in the region formed between 1952 and 1956 that, together, collectively support the generation of hydroelectricity at the Tungatinah Power Station. The lake is stocked with [[brown trout]] and [[rainbow trout]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/fisheries/waters-a-z/lake-binney/ |title=Lake Binney |work=Inland Fisheries Service |publisher=[[Government of Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-27 }}</ref> Lake Binney is pet-friendly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/articles/recreation/travelling-tassie-your-four-legged-friend |title=Travelling Tassie with your four-legged friend |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=2023-11-13 |access-date=2026-04-27 }}</ref>

== Hydroelectric power station == [[File:Nive River and Tungatinah 20171121-007.jpg|thumb|left|Tungatinah Power Station at Nive River 2017]] Part of the [[River Derwent (Tasmania)|Derwent]] scheme that comprises eleven hydroelectric power stations, the Tungatinah Power Station is the second station in the scheme. The power station is located aboveground adjacent to the Nive River. The headworks are quite complex with several dams (including the Bronte Lagoon formed by Bronte Dam, Bradys Lake formed by Bradys Dam, Pine Tier Lagoon formed by [[Pine Tier Dam]], Lake Binney and the Tungatinah Lagoon), a tunnel, canals, pipelines, flumes their associated control gates and a pump station. Water is diverted from the Tungatinah Lagoon by a short tunnel with surge shaft and then descends {{convert|290|m}} through five steel [[penstock]]s to the power station.<ref name=hydrotech/><ref name=hydro>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/derwent-0/tungatinah-power-station |title=Derwent: Tungatinah Power Station {{!}} Energy |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref>

The power station was commissioned between 1953 and 1956 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has five Boving [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] [[Water turbine|turbines]], with a total generating capacity of {{convert|125|MW}}.<ref name=fact>{{cite web |title=Tungatinah Power Station—Conservation Management Plan |author=Austral Archaeology Pty Ltd |author2=Terry, Ian |date=April 2007 |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/documents/Cultural_heritage/conservation_mgmt_plan_tungatinah.pdf |accessdate=1 February 2012 }}</ref> Within the station building, each turbine has a semi-embedded spiral casing and water flow is controlled via a spherical rotary inlet valve and a relief valve designed to prevent spiral casing over pressure. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|579|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via five 11 k[[voltage|V]]/110 kV three-phase [[General Electric Company plc|GEC]] generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.<ref name=hydrotech>{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/Tungatinah_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |title=Tungatinah Station: Technical fact sheet |work=Derwent Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |accessdate=5 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924032935/http://www.hydro.com.au/system/files/Tungatinah_Power_Station-Fact-Sheets.pdf |archivedate=24 September 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

After passing through the five turbines, water is discharged into the Nive River where it combines with the water from the [[Tarraleah Power Station]] to supply the six Lower Derwent stations.<ref name=hydro/>

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania]] * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite web |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |title=Lower Derwent |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Energy/Tasmanian+Hydro+Electric+Schemes/Catchment+Areas/Derwent+Catchment/The+Tributaries+-+the+Nive+and+Dee.htm |date= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060919104834/http://www.hydro.com.au/home/Energy/Tasmanian+Hydro+Electric+Schemes/Catchment+Areas/Derwent+Catchment/The+Tributaries+-+the+Nive+and+Dee.htm |archive-date=19 September 2006 }}

[[Category:1953 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1963]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1953]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1956]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Rock-filled dams]]