Roxburgh Dam

Roxburgh Dam
Roxburgh Dam machine hall
Roxburgh Dam is located in New Zealand
Roxburgh Dam
Location of Roxburgh Dam in New Zealand
LocationCentral Otago, New Zealand
Coordinates45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°E / -45.475811; 169.322555
Construction began1949
Opening date3 November 1956
Construction costNZ£24,102,800
Owner(s)Contact Energy
Dam and spillways
Type of damConcrete gravity dam
ImpoundsClutha River / Mata-Au
Height76 m (249 ft)
Length358 m (1,175 ft)
Width (crest)10.7 m (35 ft)
Width (base)61 m (200 ft)
Spillway capacity4,248 m3/s (150,000 cu ft/s)[1]
Reservoir
CreatesLake Roxburgh
Surface area6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Normal elevation132 m[2]
Power Station
Operator(s)Contact Energy
Commission date1956 − 1962
Turbines8
Installed capacity320 MW (430,000 hp)
Annual generation1,650 GWh (5,900 TJ)

The Roxburgh Dam is the earliest of the large hydroelectric projects in the lower half of the South Island of New Zealand. It lies across the Clutha River / Mata-Au, some 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Dunedin, some 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the north of the town of Roxburgh. The settlement of Lake Roxburgh Village is close to the western edge of the dam.

  1. ^ Chandler & Hall. Pages 159-168.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ODT1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).