Fisher Power Station

The '''Mackenzie Dam''' is a rock-filled [[embankment dam]] across the Fisher River, located in the [[North West Tasmania|northern]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1972, the resultant [[reservoir]], [[Lake Mackenzie (Tasmania)|Lake Mackenzie]], was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Fisher Power Station'''.

The '''Mackenzie Dam''' is a rock-filled [[embankment dam]] across the Fisher River, located in the [[North West Tasmania|northern]] region of [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1972, the resultant [[reservoir]], [[Lake Mackenzie (Tasmania)|Lake Mackenzie]], was established for the purpose of generating [[hydro-electricity|hydro-electric power]] via the '''Fisher Power Station'''.

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].

The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]]; and are located within the [[Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area]].{{cite report |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/mersey-forth_techreport_land_rehab_lake_mackenzie.pdf |title=Mersey-Forth Water Management Review |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=November 2013 |access-date=2026-04-26 |page=1 }}

== Dam and reservoir overview ==

== Dam and reservoir overview ==

=== Reservoir ===

=== Reservoir ===

Water from Lake Mackenzie flows via canals, tunnels and pipes to the Fisher Power Station. The water descends {{convert|650|m}} to the power station, then flows into Lake Parangana.{{cite web |url=http://www.hydro.com.au/energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Mersey–Forth power stations |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date= }} The area surrounding the reservoir were affected by the [[2016 Tasmanian bushfires]].

Water from Lake Mackenzie flows via canals, tunnels and pipes to the Fisher Power Station. The water descends to the power station and then flows into Lake Parangana. name=MF/>>{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/78802/9.-Hydro-Tasmania.pdf |title=Hydro Tasmania

submission |work= |date=February 2024 |access-date=2026-04-26 |pages=21-22 |via=[[Parliament of Tasmania|Tasmanian Government]] }}

The area surrounding the reservoir were affected by the [[2016 Tasmanian bushfires]].{{cite web |url=https://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/fire-damages-hydro-tasmania-assets-4790127/ |title=Fire damages Hydro Tasmania assets |work=International Water Power (magazine) |publisher= |date=2016-01-21 |access-date=2026-04-26 }} Fishing and boating is permitted on the reservoir; and the waterway is dominated by wild [[brown trout]] and [[rainbow trout]].{{cite web |url=https://www.ifs.tas.gov.au/fisheries/waters-a-z/lake-mackenzie/ |title=Lake Mackenzie |work=Inland Fisheries Service |publisher=[[Tasmanian Government]] |date=n.d. |access-date=2026-04-26 }}

== Hydroelectric power station ==

== Hydroelectric power station ==

Part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}[[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth]] scheme that comprises eight hydroelectric power stations, the Fisher Power Station is the second station in the scheme, located in the river's upper reaches. The station draws water from Lake Mackenzie, supplemented by water run-off from the plateau and by water pumped from Yeates Creek and Parsons Falls pumping stations. Water flow to the station is via a {{convert|6.5|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} flume, siphon and canal and then a {{convert|5.2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} vertical shaft, inclined shaft, tunnel and surface [[penstock]]. The water descends {{convert|650|m}} from the lake to the power station and then flows {{convert|4|km}} before flowing into Lake Parangana.{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Mersey-Forth |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023}}

Part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}[[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth]] scheme that comprises eight hydroelectric power stations, the Fisher Power Station is the second station in the scheme, located in the river's upper reaches.

The station draws water from Lake Mackenzie, supplemented by water run-off from the plateau and by water pumped from Yeates Creek and Parsons Falls pumping stations. Water flow to the station is via a {{convert|6.5|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} flume, siphon and canal and then a {{convert|5.2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} vertical shaft, inclined shaft, tunnel and surface [[penstock]]. The water descends {{convert|650|m}} from the lake to the power station and flows {{convert|4|km}} before entering Lake Parangana. name=MF>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Mersey–Forth power stations |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023}}

The power station was commissioned in 1973 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has one [[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Pelton turbine|Pelton-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|46|MW}}. The station output is estimated to be {{convert|240|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually, or 16% of Tasmania's electricity annual production. The electricity is fed through an 11 k[[voltage|V]] air-blast circuit breaker to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 kV/220 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer T1 and a second transformer T2, accepts the station 22 kV output from Rowallan Power Station.{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |title=Fisher Power Station |work=Mersey-Forth Catchment |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626014638/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |url-status=live}}

In July 2013, [[Andritz AG]] announced that it had secured a contact to support the upgrade of facilities at the Fisher and [[Cethana Dam#Hydroelectric power station|Cethana]] power stations.{{cite web |url=https://www.andritz.com/hydro-en/hydronews/25/hy-news-25-13-cethanafisher-hydro |title=Cethana and Fisher - First major generator refurbishment project in Australia |work=Hydro News |publisher=[[Andritz AG]] |date=2013 |access-date=2026-04-26 }} In 2017, additional upgrades were announced, provided by the [[ABB|ABB Group]];{{cite web |url=https://new.abb.com/news/detail/54634/abb-excites-hydro-tasmania-power-stations |title=ABB excites Hydro Tasmania power stations |work=[[ABB|ABB Group]] |date=2017-07-20 |access-date=2026-04-26 }} with further upgrades expected to be completed in 2027.{{cite press release |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/articles/media-releases/hydro-tasmania-another-step-closer-completing-major-mersey-forth-hydropower |title=Hydro Tasmania another step closer to completing major Mersey-Forth Hydropower Scheme upgrade |publisher=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=2026-04-17 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}

The power station was commissioned in 1973 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS)]] and the station has one [[Fuji Heavy Industries|Fuji]] [[Pelton turbine|Pelton-type]] [[Water turbine|turbine]], with a generating capacity of {{convert|46|MW}}. The station output, estimated to be {{convert|240|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually, is fed through an 11 k[[voltage|V]] air-blast circuit breaker to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 kV/220 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer T1 and a second transformer T2, accepts the station 22 kV output from Rowallan Power Station.{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |title=Fisher Power Station: Mersey-Forth Catchment |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date= |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626014638/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/fisher-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=39cd9b28_2 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |url-status=live}}

== See also ==

== See also ==

* [[List of lakes of Australia#Tasmania|List of lakes in Tasmania]]

* [[List of lakes of Australia#Tasmania|List of lakes in Tasmania]]

==References==

== References ==

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{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{cite blog |author=Walker, Cam |url=https://themountainjournal.com/adventure/tasmania/central-plateau-to-long-tarns/ |title=Central Plateau to Long Tarns |work=Mountain Journal |date=March 2024 |access-date=2026-04-26 }}

{{Dams in Tasmania}}

{{Dams in Tasmania}}

[[Category:Northern Tasmania]]

[[Category:Northern Tasmania]]

[[Category:Rock-filled dams]]

[[Category:Rock-filled dams]]

[[Category:Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area]]

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