A day before Scrivener Dam's 61st birthday (of the inauguration) they had an open day. Tony found it online. I was totally THERE. So went with him and Jo.
We all met up outside then went inside to the "upper gallery" for a bit of a chat, before we went downstairs.
The path under the first bit is a little crooked.
This is a movement sensor or indicator between the sections (14 is the last section)
This sensor measures the incline in all directions. The dam bends a little upstream during the day and back again at night.
A longer view down the gallery
There's five big hydraulic gates. This is the control panel for gate 5 (on the eastern end). They've only ever had all five gates open at once, and that was in 1974.
Each of the five big gates has four hydraulic jacks. These catch any water/oil drips so they can keep an eye on how well the seals are holding.
Another one of the controls for another gate. The big blue tank at the bottom is for oil for the hydraulics.
This is controls for one of the three sluice gates
Another shot of the gallery
One of the lake level sensors. During flooding events the team will be in contact with the operators of Googong Dam, as well as Burrinjuck.
This is the emergency exit at the western end of the dam. It wasn't there when the dam was built so they had to core through the concrete later to put it in.
Got crack?
A parting shot looking all the way west along the gallery.
This goes up to the road above. This is where they can hoist up/down equipment. Next time you're driving over the dam have a look out for it.
And the entrance.
We then went down to have a look at the front of the dam up close.
I didn't know that they have a huge bulkhead they keep parked in the lake that they can butt up against one of the gates as needed. This way they can seal off water to do maintenance/testing on individual gates without letting water out. Very cool.
Fantastic tour, loved it!! I wish the world wasn't the way it was so these sorts of things weren't so rare...
Comments