raisebore

The Official Opening of the Bogong Hydro Electric Power Scheme - Victoria, Australia

November 21, 2009

Raisebore is pleased to announce the official opening of the Bogong Hydro Electric Scheme by Victorian Premier John Brumby on Friday 20 November 2009.

Premier Brumby said that, “The Bogong Hydro Power Station is a great example of how climate change can provide a climate of opportunity - with new investment, more jobs and a cleaner environment.”

The Bogong Power Development Project, awarded to McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd by AGL Southern Hydro in September 2006, subcontracted by Raisebore and commissioned in October 2009, forms the largest hydro power project constructed in mainland Australia for 25 years.

The complete design and construction scope of the ‘Zero Emission’ hydro plant consisted of:

  • 6.5 km of 5 m diameter hardrock tunnel constructed using a 5 m diameter tunnel boring machine, operated by McConnell Dowell;
  • 1.3 km of drill and blast tunnels;
  • 250 m of 5 m diameter shafts drilled by Raisebore’s 97RL raiseboring machine;
  • 5,000 t penstock liners; power station construction and installation of two 70 MW turbines.

Mr Brumby explained that “the 7km water tunnel between McKay Creek Hydro Power Station and the Bogong Hydro Power Station is one of the largest hard-rock tunnels constructed in the Southern Hemisphere in the last 40 years using tunnel boring equipment."

"This new hydro power facility forms part of AGL Southern Hydro’s strategic energy framework for the supply of green peak demand power. It harnesses the Rocky Valley and Pretty Valley branches of the East Kiewa River and existing water resources released from the Mackay Creek Power Station to generate 140MW of renewable power."

"The design has ensured that this project has been great for the economy and great for the environment, producing zero emission energy while conserving our valuable water resources.”

“The key to meeting Victoria’s future energy needs is to deliver new clean energy such as the Bogong Hydro Power Station. It forms part of a grid of cleaner energy including solar, gas-fired and wind power which are all driving up jobs and investment, particularly in regional Victoria.”

“This project is unique because it delivers clean energy without the need for new dams or new water by reusing water already used by the McKay Creek Power Station,” said the Premier.