The Lower Derwent

The next six power stations, in progressively lower parts of the Derwent catchment area, form a relatively simple step-like series. They have small storages and use the daily inflow of tributaries of the Derwent as well as the flow from the Tungatinah and Tarraleah Power Stations.

Liapootah Power Station

A dam across the Nive River, just below Tarraleah Power Station, diverts water through a 6.6 kilometre tunnel. It then drops over 100 metres through steel penstocks to the Liapootah Power Station. The three generators, each with a capacity of 29.1 MW, were commissioned in 1960.

Water from Liapootah flows in Wayatinah Lagoon - a small storage created by a rockfill dam on the Derwent River. A tunnel and woodstave pipelines take water from Wayatinah Lagoon to steel penstocks and a 56 metre drop to the Wayatinah Power Station. The three generators were commissioned in 1957 and each has a capacity of 12.75 MW.

Woodstave pipelines above Wayatinah Power Station

The two 24 MW capacity generators at Catagunya Power Station were commissioned in 1962. The station is situated some five kilometres down river from Wayatinah. The Lake Catagunya storage is formed by a concrete gravity dam strengthen by a large number of steel cables. At the time of its construction it was the largest of its type in the world. Water from the lake flows a short distance through a wide concrete flume benched into the hillside. It then drops some 44 metres through twin steel penstocks to the two Francis turbines.

The proposal to develop the lower three power stations on the Derwent River was approved by parliament in 1961. Each of the three power stations, Repulse, Cluny and Meadowbank, are situated at the foot of concrete dams.

Their single Kaplan turbines are connected to generators with a capacity of 28, 17 and 40 MW respectively. In developing the hydro-electric potential of the lower Derwent River, a compromise was reached between power production and land use for agricultural purposes.

Water which originates at an altitude above 846 metres around Lake Echo and 737 metres around Lake St Clair flows out of Meadowbank Power Station on 44 metres above sea level.

Hydro lakes in the Derwent catchment are popular venues for fishing, canoeing and water skiing.