Split Rock Dam - Location and Features

Location and Features

Commenced in 1984, completed in 1987, and upgraded in 2012, the Split Rock Dam is a minor dam on the Manilla River, located approximately 28 kilometres (17 mi) upstream, north of Manilla and 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Tamworth, accessed by a turnoff from Fossickers Way. The dam was built by Abignano Pty Limited on behalf of the New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation to supply water for irrigation, flood mitigation and potable water for towns in the Namoi Valley, including Manilla and Barraba. Together with Keepit Dam, Split Rock Dam supplies extensive irrigation water in the Namoi Valley. The dams also supply water for the town of Walgett and generates hydro-power for the national grid.

The dam wall constructed with 1,048 cubic metres (37,000 cu ft) of concrete faced rockfill is 66 metres (217 ft) high and 484 metres (1,588 ft) long. The maximum water depth is 52 metres (171 ft) and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 397,370 megalitres (14,033×10^6 cu ft) of water at 449 metres (1,473 ft) AHD. The surface area of Split Rock Reservoir is 2,150 hectares (5,300 acres) and the catchment area is 1,650 square kilometres (640 sq mi), mostly from the Upper Manilla and Ironbark Creeks plus small creeks and gullies, too, including Crow Mountain and Eumur Creeks. The concrete chute spillway is capable of discharging 6,860 cubic metres per second (242,000 cu ft/s). An A$8.1 million upgrade of facilities was completed during 2012 and involved construction of a new, 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high, concrete parapet wall on the embankment.

At the time of its initial construction in 1987, Split Rock Dam incorporated the latest dam technology with an intake tower that can select water from any specified depth. This ensures that cold, de-oxygenated water from lower levels is mixed with water that contains more oxygen from the warmer layers above, before it leaves the storage.

In 2013, Tamworth Regional Council announced a project to construct a 28 kilometres (17 mi) pipeline from Split Rock Dam to Barraba to ensure local residents have access to a quality water supply would proceed. Additional project infrastructure includes a pumping station near the dam, a pressure tank, and upgrades to Barrabra water treatment plant.

The dam is named after a fissure in a large rock near the dam site.