Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme Research Articles

Australian Newspaper Framing of Renewables: The Case of Snowy Hydro 2.0

ABSTRACT Australian media reporting of climate change and renewable energy, along with public perceptions of the science and solutions of climate change, have shifted in ways that have increased pressure on politicians and policy makers. With the promotion of renewable energy central to ending Australia's heavy reliance on fossil fuels, it is critical to understand how this complex intersection of media and politics is evolving with regard to Australia's renewable energy options. Therefore, this paper examines Australian newspaper reporting of a pivotal moment in Australia's renewable energy discourse: the Australian Government's announcement, in March 2017 to expand the seventy-year-old Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme (known as Snowy 2.0), which marked a turning point in conservative energy policy. Qualitative content analysis reveals that, while political discourse delimited newspaper narratives, the sentiment of the framing was most strongly associated with the partisan alignment of the publishing organization. Regional influences also had a minor association with the framing of renewable energy. Through close analysis of this decisive moment in Australian media's political representation of renewable energy, this paper offers insights that can be used to inform media strategies for renewable energy policy in Australia, and to track changes in framing over time.

'Dust Bowls', TVAs and Snowy River Waters: John Heyer, The Valley is Ours and an Early Post-War 'Image of Australia'

Abstract This paper introduces the story of the 1940s debate between the Australian state of Victoria and the north-bordering state of New South Wales, over Australia's Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. It describes the campaign imagery generated by the state of Victoria and the Murray Valley Development League (MVDL) to promote their vision for a Murray Valley TVA. The focus is on Australian documentary film-maker John Heyer and The Valley is Ours (1948). The Valley was created to support the MVDL's claims that a scheme to benefit their valley would be the best post-war scheme for both New South Wales and Victoria, and for the nation. This paper takes a transnational and cultural approach to investigating this story. This is because Heyer used nationalist US concepts to strengthen Australian national myths - the film's transnational content was set to a nationalist purpose. This paper describes the environmental imagery - not just images, but sound and text, used by Heyer and the MVDL campaign, to convey a transnational set of ideas. It retrieves a material record from the archives, of what these transnational environmental ideas actually looked and sounded like. And it sheds light on the cultural influences and political forces behind the Murray TVA campaign and the film's creation.

Australia's National Broadband Network – A cybersecure critical infrastructure?

In 2009 the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) began to be rolled out across Australia. The Australian NBN is the largest infrastructure project in Australia's history since the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme from 1949 to 1972 and it has a projected cost of between AU$37 billion and AU$43 billion. Its purposes are to provide high speed broadband connectivity to 93% of Australia's homes and businesses, to enhance productivity, to improve the delivery of education, tele-medicine and regional connectivity and to form the basis of the Australian telecommunications network for the 21st Century. However, the project does not have bi-partisan support and has been affected by high-level management changes and anticipated cost over-runs.The legal implications of the Australian NBN are as vast as the project itself. Its implementation has involved the enactment of a suite of Commonwealth legislation and will involve considerable competition law and long-term access issues which have already been much critiqued. However, despite information technology being in the top five critical infrastructures internationally, a critical infrastructure analysis of the NBN has had little public attention. Similarly, due to the confidential nature of much of the NBN's operations, the cybersecurity aspects of the project have only been lightly scrutinised. Paradoxically, it is contended that greater scrutiny and public access to vital information will provide enhanced, not less, security for both the network itself and for Australian users and will also provide for a more secure and reliable engagement with Australia's international trading partners. Given the need for a high level of trust in, and the immense reliance upon, the Australian NBN, consumer and business confidence can only be enhanced by greater awareness of the critical infrastructure implications of the Australian NBN for Australia's future.

Before and after Climate Change: The Snow Country in Australian Imaginaries

Before and after Climate Change: The Snow Country in Australian Imaginaries

Jindabyne’s Haunted Alpine Country: Producing (an) Australian Badland

<i>Jindabyne</i>’s Haunted Alpine Country: Producing (an) Australian Badland

Improving Expert Panel Assessments through the use of a Composite River Condition Index—the case of the rivers affected by the Snowy Mountains hydro‐electric scheme, Australia

AbstractA rapid process of water reform in Australia has seen governments rely heavily on ‘expert’ or ‘scientific’ panel advice for river condition and environmental flow assessments. These multi‐disciplinary teams of scientists have enabled a quick and relatively inexpensive injection of science into what is often a data‐poor decision process. However, expert panels suffer from several important drawbacks including a lack of transparency and repeatability, and unquantified uncertainty. In the case of the Snowy Mountains hydro‐electric scheme, a government initiative to corporatize the government‐owned authority led to the establishment of the Snowy Water Inquiry (SWI) that was required by law to propose and evaluate (within a six month period) a range of options for future river regulation, diversion and environmental flows. A Scientific Reference Panel (SRP) was therefore established to assess current (1998) river condition and to assess the likely environments benefits of a range of environmental flow options. The SRP attempted to overcome a number of the typical shortcomings of the expert panel approach by (i) integrating available data with expert opinion in its assessments, and (ii) developing a composite River Condition Index (RCI) underpinned by a conceptual framework that links habitat and biotic condition and comprises several sub‐indices that translate qualitative assessments (relative to a pre‐disturbance reference condition) into numeric values in a transparent and repeatable manner. The SRP estimated the level of uncertainty associated with its various assessments, and used these to quantify uncertainty estimates on RCI values. In this paper the RCI is described and its use is illustrated through presentation of the assessments of current (1998) river condition and the associated uncertainty analyses that were made for the rivers in the Snowy Mountains area. The results suggest that in spite of high levels of uncertainty associated with individual assessments, the SRP was able to demonstrate significant difference in current condition between rivers, and in likely future condition between different environmental flow scenarios. Although further investigations and lengthy negotiations occurred subsequent to the SWI to achieve corporatization, the environmental assessments made in the SWI provided the most comprehensive source of information available to governments and the community regarding the likely environmental outcomes of the proposed changes. Subsequent to the SWI the scenario‐based approach to environmental flow assessment has become increasingly common internationally, and major Australian river condition assessments have adopted a similar conceptual framework to the RCI. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Transmission of prices and price volatility in Australian electricity spot markets: a multivariate GARCH analysis

This paper examines the transmission of spot electricity prices and price volatility among the five regional electricity markets in the Australian National Electricity Market: namely, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme and Victoria. A multivariate generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model is used to identify the source and magnitude of price and price volatility spillovers. The results indicate the presence of positive own mean spillovers in only a small number of markets and no mean spillovers between any of the markets. This appears to be directly related to the physical transfer limitations of the present system of regional interconnection. Nevertheless, the large number of significant own-volatility and cross-volatility spillovers in all five markets indicates the presence of strong autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity effects. This indicates that shocks in some markets will affect price volatility in others. Finally, and contrary to evidence from studies in North American electricity markets, the results also indicate that Australian electricity spot prices are stationary.

Transmission of prices and price volatility in Australian electricity spot markets: a multivariate GARCH analysis

Abstract This paper examines the transmission of spot electricity prices and price volatility among the five regional electricity markets in the Australian National Electricity Market: namely, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme and Victoria. A multivariate generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model is used to identify the source and magnitude of price and price volatility spillovers. The results indicate the presence of positive own mean spillovers in only a small number of markets and no mean spillovers between any of the markets. This appears to be directly related to the physical transfer limitations of the present system of regional interconnection. Nevertheless, the large number of significant own-volatility and cross-volatility spillovers in all five markets indicates the presence of strong autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity effects. This indicates that shocks in some markets will affect price volatility in others. Finally, and contrary to evidence from studies in North American electricity markets, the results also indicate that Australian electricity spot prices are stationary.

Ecological impacts and institutional and economic drivers for water resource development—a case study of the Murrumbidgee River, Australia

Much of the world's water for humans comes from rivers for drinking, generating hydro-electricity, industry and irrigation. Dams and diversions reduce downstream flows, particularly to floodplain wetlands, and their fauna and flora. For many countries, including Australia (75% of water use), the greatest user of water is irrigated agriculture. The Murrumbidgee River in the Murray-Darling Basin is one of the most regulated major rivers in Australia. Water resource development, including the building of 26 storages, over more than 140 years on the Murrumbidgee River in southeastern Australia destroyed or degraded at least 76% of the floodplain that once covered 304,000 ha. Remaining wetland areas are also considerably altered. Water resource development in the catchment with subsequent diversion of water and recent development of the floodplain were the main causes of wetland loss. Establishment of two major irrigation areas in Australia, the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme and Australia's capital, Canberra were all drivers for upstream development of water. The major local drivers were community values and expectations of water, reflected in Government decisions and legislation. The water and hydro-electricity agencies were primarily responsible for most of the water resource development before the 1970. After 1980, changing expectations on the Lower Murrumbidgee floodplain and Government investment produced rapid development of the floodplain for irrigation. Likely environmental costs were not adequately considered or made explicit for transparent decision-making. Such case studies need to be used when considering likely impacts of future water resource developments on other river systems.

Economic justification of the Snowy scheme

Abstract The Australian Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme was constructed in 1949–1973. Its major goal was to augment the nation's universally approved irrigation resources. The entirety, as well as all kinds of detail, was designed by “Kelvin's Law”, the best cost–benefit technique then available. Economic triumph appeared certain. Later, three major studies of economic doubt emerged (i) by Rose (ii) by Davidson using a critical discount rate of 7% (iii) by McColl. The solution to these doubts, after the experience of 50 years of the Snowy Scheme, is offered. There are two major factors. First, the installations show a longer life than nominally accepted, much longer than the 70 years set for repayment. Second, the art of cost–benefit analysis did not at the time incorporate inflation, so the critics were unable to take it into account. The inflation rate in 1949–1999, not large but monotonically increasing, is 5.8%. Thus Davidson's 7%, which is also the rate of Snowy repayment to government, becomes a “real” rate of 1.2%. Using these concepts, the Snowy becomes, ex-post, a brilliant investment. Yet even this is considered besides the point. A “teleological principle” is advanced, beside the conventional cost-benefit, that “if the political purposes of the originators are achieved, and at the same time there is some arrangement for repayment”, the scheme is justified. It is shown that, for the Snowy, this is so.

Rock mechanics in Australia

This paper introduces this Special Issue by providing an overview of rock mechanics in Australia. It begins with an account of the establishment and development of rock mechanics as an identifiable engineering discipline in Australia, placing particular emphasis on the pioneering work carried out on the monumental Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme in the period 1949–1969. An outline is then given of the organisational frameworks within which research, professional practice and learned society activity in rock mechanics are carried out in Australia. Finally, summaries are given of the nine papers selected for inclusion in this Special Issue to represent the range of the best current Australian research and practice in rock mechanics. Throughout the paper, examples are given of significant Australian contributions to rock mechanics research and practice, nationally and internationally.

Economic justification of the Snowy scheme

The Australian Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric scheme was constructed in 1949–1973. Its major goal was to augment the nation's universally approved irrigation resources. The entirety, as well as all kinds of detail, was designed by “Kelvin's Law”, the best cost–benefit technique then available. Economic triumph appeared certain. Later, three major studies of economic doubt emerged (i) by Rose (ii) by Davidson using a critical discount rate of 7% (iii) by McColl. The solution to these doubts, after the experience of 50 years of the Snowy Scheme, is offered. There are two major factors. First, the installations show a longer life than nominally accepted, much longer than the 70 years set for repayment. Second, the art of cost–benefit analysis did not at the time incorporate inflation, so the critics were unable to take it into account. The inflation rate in 1949–1999, not large but monotonically increasing, is 5.8%. Thus Davidson's 7%, which is also the rate of Snowy repayment to government, becomes a “real” rate of 1.2%. Using these concepts, the Snowy becomes, ex-post, a brilliant investment. Yet even this is considered besides the point. A “teleological principle” is advanced, beside the conventional cost-benefit, that “if the political purposes of the originators are achieved, and at the same time there is some arrangement for repayment”, the scheme is justified. It is shown that, for the Snowy, this is so.

Recovery of the Snowy River: Politics and River Rehabilitation

W.D. ERSKINE, L.M. TURNER, N. TERRAZZOLO AND R.F. WARNERProfessor Seddon’s submission to the SnowyWater Inquiry (Seddon, 1999) expresses manyof the local community’s concerns about thepresent environmental condition of the SnowyRiver caused by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. We also share these concernsand welcome the opportunity to expandSeddon’s (1999) assessment.The terminology relating to river rehabili-tation is often confusing and needs to beprecisely defined. In this paper, river restorationrefers to the complete structural and functionalreturn to a pre-disturbance state,rehabilitation,to a partial return to a pre-disturbance structureor function and enhancement, to anyimprovement in environmental quality (Brookesand Shields, 1996). The aim of all previouswork on the Snowy River has been directed atriver rehabilitation or enhancement, not resto-ration (Pendlebury et al., 1996; Anon., 1998;Bevitt et al., 1998; Erskine et al., 1999). Due tospace limitations, we concentrate here on theaspect of the Snowy Water Inquiry concernedwith rehabilitation of the Snowy River.The purpose of this paper is threefold,namely:1. To summarise the scientific support forSeddon’s (1999) graphic descriptions ofchannel response to the Snowy MountainsHydro-electric Scheme.2. To outline the role of an environmental flowregime in river rehabilitation.3. To emphasise that such rehabilitation is nowdependent on a political process that speci-fies an increase in the releases from LakeJindabyne into the Snowy River (Anon.,1998; Erskine et al., 1999).In October 1998, the Snowy Water Inquiryrecommended the implementation a new flowregime (their composite option D) togovernment but, as of July 1999, no furtheraction had been taken.‘A great environmental wrong perpetratedwith little thought to the consequences’The designed diversion flows out of the Snowycatchment (interbasin water transfers for hydro-electric power generation) were 1101 10

River rehabilitation from the hydrogeomorphic impacts of a large hydro-electric power project: Snowy River, Australia

Large interbasin water transfers for hydro-electric power generation have substantially changed the hydrology of the Snowy River below the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme in southeastern Australia, since 1967. Annual, monthly, mean daily and peak instantaneous flows have been significantly reduced and flood variability greatly increased along 352 km of channel. The first 70 km of river has responded by substantial contraction through the reworking of tributary mouth bars into downstream pools, bars and benches. The tributary mouth bars formed where actively eroding gullies and incised channels debouched into the main stream. These recent deposits have been invaded and stabilized by a number of exotic and native tree and shrub species but particularly willows. Lichens have also colonized the formerly inundated bedrock and boulder surfaces since 1967 in the first 20 km of channel and are now found at elevations up to 2.15 m closer to the river bed. Exotic plants are also invading the riparian corridor downstream of the contracted sections due to reduced disturbance caused by flood suppression. The interaction of reduced flows with high sand and gravel loads has reduced the amount of available habitat. Alternating, bank-attached side bars and their associated pool–riffle sequence have been replaced by transverse and longitudinal bars with a flat featureless bed on the most downstream reach due to a significant reduction in the duration of formative flows between 23.15 and 138.9 m3/s. The rehabilitation of the Snowy River involves the adoption of an environmental flow strategy that includes channel maintenance flows, habitat maintenance flows, minimum acceptable flows, habitat maximizing flows and flow seasonality. This strategy will increase the total amount, duration and variability of releases. A Water Inquiry has been set up as part of the corporatization of the Scheme and will address the issue of environmental flows. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Photography and the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme

On 17 October, 1949, The Snowy Mountains HydroElectric Authority (SMHA) was officially opened by Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley at a ceremony in Cooma, New South Wales. The project, intended to harness the waters of the Snowy River and its tributaries to generate power for the entire country as well as to provide irrigation for the inland, was the largest and most ambitious engineering project ever undertaken in Australia. By any standard it was a monumental task, requiring an enormous and committed workforce — a workforce which Australia did not at that time possess.1

Surveying for the planning and construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme survey on the Snowy

Introduction Today one takes for granted our supplies of electricity, our resulting increased industrial output, new technology, computers, etc. just as we do the right to drive our own cars, trave...