{{short description|Dam and power station in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{about|the dam and power station in Tasmania, Australia|the Canadian river and its hydroelectric facilities|Mackenzie River#Hydroelectricity}} {{Infobox dam | name = Mackenzie Dam | name_official = | image = | image_size = 240 | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-41.679303|146.381970|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|display=it|format=dms}} | country = Australia | location = [[North West Tasmania|Northern]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = {{start date|1972}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = H | dam_crosses = Fisher River | dam_height = {{cvt|14|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|976|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|176|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Uncontrolled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|515|m3/s}} | res_name = [[Lake Mackenzie (Tasmania)|Lake Mackenzie]] | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|20220|ML|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|75|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|29.6|ha}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|1114|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Fisher Power Station | plant_coordinates = {{coord|41|40|24|S|146|16|06|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = {{start date|1973}} | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|603|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|46|MW|abbr=on}}<br />[[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Pelton turbine|Pelton-type]] | plant_capacity = {{cvt|46|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.9 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|240|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }}
The '''Mackenzie Dam''' is a rock-filled [[embankment dam]] across the Fisher River, located in the [[North West Tasmania|northern]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1972, the resultant [[reservoir]], [[Lake Mackenzie (Tasmania)|Lake Mackenzie]], was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Fisher Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].
The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]]; and are located within the [[Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area]].<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_techreport_land_rehab_lake_mackenzie.pdf |title=Mersey-Forth Water Management Review |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=November 2013 |access-date=2026-04-26 |page=1 }}</ref>
== Dam and reservoir overview == === Technical details === The [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]-faced [[rock-filled dam]] wall is {{convert|14|m}} high and {{convert|976|m}} long. When full, Lake Mackenzie has capacity of {{convert|20220|ML|acre.ft}} and covers {{convert|29.6|ha}}, draw from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|75|km2}}. The single [[spillway#Types|uncontrolled spillway]] is capable of discharging {{convert|515|m3/s}}.<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 320}}</ref>
=== Reservoir === Water from Lake Mackenzie flows via canals, tunnels and pipes to the Fisher Power Station. The water descends to the power station and then flows into Lake Parangana.<ref name=MF/><ref name=submission>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/78802/9.-Hydro-Tasmania.pdf |title=Hydro Tasmania submission |work= |date=February 2024 |access-date=2026-04-26 |pages=21-22 |via=[[Parliament of Tasmania|Tasmanian Government]] }}</ref>
The area surrounding the reservoir were affected by the [[2016 Tasmanian bushfires]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/fire-damages-hydro-tasmania-assets-4790127/ |title=Fire damages Hydro Tasmania assets |work=International Water Power (magazine) |publisher= |date=2016-01-21 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}</ref> Fishing and boating is permitted on the reservoir; and the waterway is dominated by wild [[brown trout]] and [[rainbow trout]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/fisheries/waters-a-z/lake-mackenzie/ |title=Lake Mackenzie |work=Inland Fisheries Service |publisher=[[Tasmanian Government]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-26 }}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == The Fisher Power Station is part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}[[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth]] scheme that comprises seven [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric power stations and one [[mini-hydro]] power station. The second station in the scheme, the Fisher Power Station is located in the river's upper reaches.
The station draws water from Lake Mackenzie, supplemented by water run-off from the plateau and by water pumped from Yeates Creek and Parsons Falls pumping stations. Water flow to the station is via a {{convert|6.5|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} flume, siphon and canal and then a {{convert|5.2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} vertical shaft, inclined shaft, tunnel and surface [[penstock]]. The water descends {{convert|650|m}} from the lake to the power station and flows {{convert|4|km}} before entering Lake Parangana.<ref name=MF>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Mersey–Forth power stations |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref>
The power station was commissioned in 1973 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has one [[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Pelton turbine|Pelton-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|46|MW}}. The station output is estimated to be {{convert|240|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> or 16% of Tasmania's electricity annual production.<ref name=submission/> The electricity is fed through an 11 k[[voltage|V]] air-blast circuit breaker to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 kV/220 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer T1 and a second transformer T2, accepts the station 22 kV output from Rowallan Power Station.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |title=Fisher Power Station |work=Mersey-Forth Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626014638/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In July 2013, [[Andritz AG]] announced that it had secured a contact to support the upgrade of facilities at the Fisher and [[Cethana Dam#Hydroelectric power station|Cethana]] power stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.andritz.com/hydro-en/hydronews/25/hy-news-25-13-cethanafisher-hydro |title=Cethana and Fisher - First major generator refurbishment project in Australia |work=Hydro News |publisher=[[Andritz AG]] |date=2013 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}</ref> In 2017, additional upgrades were announced, provided by the [[ABB|ABB Group]];<ref>{{cite web |url=https://new.abb.com/news/detail/54634/abb-excites-hydro-tasmania-power-stations |title=ABB excites Hydro Tasmania power stations |work=[[ABB|ABB Group]] |date=2017-07-20 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}</ref> with further upgrades expected to be completed in 2027.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/articles/media-releases/hydro-tasmania-another-step-closer-completing-major-mersey-forth-hydropower |title=Hydro Tasmania another step closer to completing major Mersey-Forth Hydropower Scheme upgrade |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=2026-04-17 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water}}}} * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * {{section link|List of reservoirs and dams in Australia|Tasmania}} * {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|Tasmania}} * [[List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite blog |author=Walker, Cam |url=https://themountainjournal.com/adventure/tasmania/central-plateau-to-long-tarns/ |title=Central Plateau to Long Tarns |work=Mountain Journal |date=March 2024 |access-date=2026-04-26 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/our-energy-system/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Our power stations: Mersey-Forth |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=2026-04-30 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_commitments_poster.pdf |title=Mersey-Forth Water Management Review: Program Commitments |format=schematic |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-30 }}
{{Dams in Tasmania}} {{EnergyTasmania}} {{Lakes of Tasmania|state=autocollapse}} {{CentralHighlandsTasmania |state=autocollapse}}
[[Category:1972 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:2016 Tasmanian bushfires]] [[Category:Central Highlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1972]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1973]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Lakes of Tasmania|Mackenzie]] [[Category:Mersey River (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Northern Tasmania]] [[Category:Rock-filled dams]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]] [[Category:Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area]]