Lake Manchester Dam is a concrete gravity dam with an un-gated spillway across Cabbage Tree Creek. It is also known as Cabbage Tree Creek Dam.[4] It is in the locality of Lake Manchester, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[5] The main purpose of the dam is for potable water supply of Brisbane.[1][3] The impounded reservoir is called Lake Manchester.[4]
| Lake Manchester Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of the Lake Manchester Dam in Queensland | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | South East Queensland |
| Coordinates | 27°29′17″S 152°45′5″E / 27.48806°S 152.75139°E |
| Purpose | |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1912 |
| Opening date |
|
| Operator(s) | SEQ Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Cabbage Tree Creek |
| Height | 43.8 m (144 ft)[1] |
| Length | 188 m (617 ft)[1] |
| Dam volume | 45×103 m3 (1.6×106 cu ft)[1] |
| Spillway type | Uncontrolled |
| Spillway capacity | 450 m3/s (16,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Manchester |
| Total capacity | 26,217 ML (5.767×109 imp gal; 6.926×109 US gal)[2][3] |
| Catchment area | 74 km2 (29 sq mi)[1][2] |
| Surface area | 264 ha (650 acres)[2][3] |
| Website www.seqwater.com.au | |
Location and features
editThe dam is located in the area surrounding the suburb of the same name, approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north of Ipswich. The primary inflow of the reservoir is Cabbage Tree Creek, not far above its confluence with the Brisbane River to the south-west of the dam (27°30′03″S 152°44′09″E / 27.5008°S 152.7359°E).[3] Its original purpose was to supplement supplies when the flow of the Brisbane River was low. Today it is one of a number of dams connected to the South East Queensland Water Grid.
The concrete dam structure is 43.8 metres (144 ft) high and 188 metres (617 ft) long. The 45-thousand-cubic-metre (1.6×106 cu ft) dam wall holds back the 26,217-megalitre (5.767×109 imp gal; 6.926×109 US gal) reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 74 square kilometres (29 sq mi) that includes much of the western slopes of the D'Aguilar Range, the dam creates Lake Manchester, with a surface area of 264 hectares (650 acres). The uncontrolled un-gated spillway has a discharge capacity of 450 cubic metres per second (16,000 cu ft/s).[1] Initially managed by the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and then the Brisbane City Council, management of the dam was transferred to Seqwater in July 2008.
History
editThe Enoggera Dam, the Gold Creek Dam and the Mount Crosby Weir were built to supply water to Brisbane but could not meet growing demand. A site 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) upstream from the creek's confluence with the Brisbane River was selected as this was the next catchment to the west in the D'Aguilar Range. The designer was Allan Hazen, an American engineer.[6] Construction of the Lake Manchester Dam commenced in 1912 and when it was completed in 1916,[7][8] it was the fourth–oldest dam in Queensland[1] and was originally called the Cabbage Tree Creek Dam.[6] The dam was renamed in 1916 in honour of E. J. T. Manchester, the president of the Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.[6] In 1924 the elevation of the bywash was raised which added to the dam's capacity.[6]
In October 2005 the dam was reactivated as drought reduced the region's water supply to a critical point.[7] The same year a report claimed that due to leaks and cracks the structure could break in a severe rain storm event.[8] In 2007 the dam's capacity was again raised and connection to the regional water grid was re-established. The Lake Manchester Dam Flood Security Upgrade was a Brisbane City Council project to ensure that the dam met the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) guidelines for large dams.[7] The project involved strengthening and raising the dam wall for flood security purposes. Work began in early 2007[7] and was completed in 2008.[2]
Recreational
editRecreational activities which are permitted around the dam include barbecuing, camping, horse riding, mountain biking, picnicking and bushwalking.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Register of Large Dams in Australia" (Excel (requires download)). Dams information. Australian National Committee on Large Dams. 2010. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Lake Manchester Dam". Water supply: Dams and weirs. Seqwater. 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d Harrison, Rod; James, Ernie; Sully, Chris; Classon, Bill; Eckermann, Joy (2008). Queensland Dams. Bayswater, Victoria: Australian Fishing Network. ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
- ^ a b "Lake Manchester – reservoir in the City of Brisbane (entry 20760)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d Horton, Helen (1988). Brisbane's Back Door: The story of the D'Aguilar Range. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. p. 79. ISBN 0-86439-036-X.
- ^ a b c d "Lake Manchester Dam Flood Security Upgrade". Brisbane City Council. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ a b "Lake Manchester leaks a risk". International Water Power and Dam Construction. Global Trade Media. 21 December 2005. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2009.