Fish River Water Supply, 1943-

Description

Engineered by the NSW Public Works Department this scheme commenced in October 1943 to supply water to the Glen Davis shale oil works, with Stage 1being constructed by the Civil Constructional Corps during World War 2.

At 33.5m, Oberon Dam on the Fish River is the highest slab and buttress dam in Australia and except for pumping to Oberon, gravitates water to towns, the upper Blue Mountains, rural consumers and Wallerawang and Mount Piper power stations.

The scheme is unique in transferring western flowing water to east of the Great Dividing Range.

The pipeline to Wallerawang power station was the first and remains the longest pre-stressed concrete water supply pipeline in Australia; the steel pipeline to Leura ascends Narrow Neck vertically and at the time sustained the greatest pressure of any in Australia.

The concept of the scheme was progressively developed by consulting engineers A R Blair, G Haskins and Public Works Principal Engineer Water Supply, S Jones.

Division

Marker Type

  • NEL: National Engineering Landmark (to 2008)

Documentation

Nomination