Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir is a reservoir in the Australian state of South Australia located in the gazetted locality of Hindmarsh Valley about 11 kilometres (7 mi) north of the municipal seat in Victor Harbor.[7]

Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir
Wall at Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir
Location of Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir in South Australia
Official name	Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir
Country	Australia
Location	Hindmarsh Valley[1]
Coordinates	35°28′16″S 138°36′05″E[1]
Purpose	potable water supply[2]
Status	recycled water storage[3]
Construction began	November 1914[4]
Opening date	25 June 1917[5]
Construction cost	A£69,000[2]
Built by	Government of South Australia
Owner(s)	Government of South Australia
Operator(s)	SA Water
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Gravity[2]
Height (thalweg)	13.6 metres (44.5 ft)[2]
Spillways	1
Reservoir
Creates	Hindmarsh Valley Reservoir
Total capacity	590 megalitres (130,000,000 imp gal)[2]
Active capacity	360 megalitres (80,000,000 imp gal)[4]
Catchment area	9.1 square kilometres (3.5 sq mi)[4]
Normal elevation	69 metres (227 ft)[6]

The dam consists of a gravity dam of a height of 13.6 metres (44.5 ft) which holds back a lake of a volume of 360 megalitres (80,000,000 imp gal) and which extends for a distance about 0.80 kilometres (0.5 mi).[5][7]

The reservoir and its distribution system were designed and built by the state government’s Waterworks Department with construction being carried out from November 1914 to mid-1917. The majority of work involved the excavation of a natural depression and the construction of an embankment dam wall with a puddle core on land in section 159 of the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Goolwa. The reservoir was designed to receive water from two sources. The first was surface flow from a catchment which includes the hill known as Mount Billy to the immediate north and Peeralilla Hill to the immediate east. The second which was the main supply was obtained from the Hindmarsh River to the immediate west via an intake consisting of an intake chamber and a system of 0.61 metres (24 in) diameter reinforced concrete pipes.[2][7]

Its original purpose was to supply only Victor Harbor, Middleton and Port Elliott, however water mains were extended to Goolwa after its residents petitioned the state government.[8][7]

In 1978, a new spillway was constructed.[9]

In 1983, land consisting of sections 159 and 160 of the Hundred of Goolwa and which includes the reservoir and part of its catchment was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate with the following statement of significance:[10][11]

This is a significant stand of natural vegetation due to its size and the diversity of plant communities which include savannah woodland in a fairly natural state. Some fine specimens of SA blue gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) and rough barked manna gum (E. huberana) can be seen. The presence of a reservoir adds to the habitat diversity and aesthetic appeal.

In 1999, the reservoir was reported in the media as being surplus to the needs of SA Water, its operator, and that it and the associated land holding would be transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources subject to access to the infrastructure and ongoing control over the catchment. On 12 August 1999, land to the immediate north of the reservoir was proclaimed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as the Mount Billy Conservation Park.[12][11]

On 18 November 1999, the Government of South Australia announced that the reservoir would be decommissioned and would be replaced with a new facility known as the Nettle Hill Water Storage Facility. The new facility which is located on Nettle Hill Road to the immediate north-west of the reservoir would receive treated water from the Myponga Reservoir.[13][14][1]

As of 2007, the reservoir was used to store "seasonal excess recycled water" produced by the Victor Harbor Waste Water Treatment Plant.[3]

In September 2014, the reservoir was one of five regional water storage facilities listed for potential reuse for recreational activities such as fishing. However, as of January 2018, the necessary approvals had not been granted for recreational use of the reservoir.[15][16]

See also

• List of reservoirs and dams in Australia

References

•  This article incorporates text by Commonwealth of Australia available under the CC BY 3.0 AU licence.