The Snowy Mountains Scheme, today became the 107th place to be added to the National Heritage List. The National Heritage Listed area includes 15 major dams, nine power stations and a pumping station, covering a mountainous area of 4,600 square kilometres in southern New South Wales.
The Snowy Mountains Scheme was constructed between 1949 and 1974 and is made up of 225 kilometres of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. However, only two per cent of the entire construction visible above the ground. Its dams, tunnels, aqueducts and power stations are some of the most complex and technical engineering and construction feats in the country and the world, which were built by around 100,000 people from around 30 countries.
70 per cent of these were migrants displaced from their homes in Europe during the Second World War. These workers and their children lived in towns and camps across the Snowy Mountains during construction and the scheme is a symbol of multicultural Australia.
Significant engineering advancements were achieved during the construction of the scheme, including rockbolting and the use of 330 kV transmission lines. Most importantly, the Snowy Mountains Scheme was completed on time and on budget.
“The Snowy Mountains Scheme is an audacious and brilliant example of modern Australia—a bold idea brought to life by the hard-work of thousands of people coming to Australia from all over the world,” said environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in the NSW.
The Snowy Mountains Scheme is one of Australia’s largest producers of renewable energy, including nearly a third of renewable energy fed into the eastern mainland grid, and water flowing from the scheme supports over $3 billion in agricultural production.
The scheme’s inclusion in the National Heritage List formalises the important chapter the Snowy Scheme has in the Australian story and cements its place in the nation’s history.
Online Source: The Indian Telegraph.
