Roxburgh Dam | |
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![]() Roxburgh Dam machine hall | |
Location | Central Otago, New Zealand |
Coordinates | 45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°E |
Construction began | 1949 |
Opening date | 3 November 1956 |
Construction cost | NZ£24,102,800 |
Owner(s) | Contact Energy |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Concrete gravity dam |
Impounds | Clutha River / Mata-Au |
Height | 76 m (249 ft) |
Length | 358 m (1,175 ft) |
Width (crest) | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
Width (base) | 61 m (200 ft) |
Spillway capacity | 4,248 m3/s (150,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Lake Roxburgh |
Surface area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
Normal elevation | 132 m[2] |
Power Station | |
Operator(s) | Contact Energy |
Commission date | 1956 − 1962 |
Turbines | 8 |
Installed capacity | 320 MW (430,000 hp) |
Annual generation | 1,650 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.