Chaffey Dam is a minor ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with an uncontrolled morning glory spillway across the Peel River, located upstream of the city of Tamworth, in the New England region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply, and water conservation.

Location and features

Commenced in August 1976 and completed in September 1979, the Chaffey Dam is a minor dam on the Peel River, a tributary of the Namoi River, approximately 16 km north of Nundle and 44 km south-east of Tawmorth. Water from the dam is released directly into the Peel River which is used by irrigators downstream of the dam, and for water supply of the city of Tamworth. The dam wall comprises 1413 m3 of rock fill is 55.8 m high and is 430 m long. The maximum water depth is 30 m and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back 62830 ML of water at 518 m AHD. The surface area of the reservoir is 542 ha and the catchment area is 420 km2. The dam uses an unusual concrete morning glory bell-shaped uncontrolled spillway which is capable of discharging 903 m3/s. The spillway measures 25.81 m in diameter and tapers down to 7.72 m. The spillway tower is 35.1 m high. Chaffey Dam provides valuable public recreation including swimming, sailing, boating and fishing.

Upgrade of facilities

An A$13 million upgrade of Chaffey Dam commenced during 2010 that involved the construction of a 35 m auxiliary spillway with release plug, funded by the Government of New South Wales and was completed in early 2011. A second stage A$43.33 million augmentation commenced in 2013, funded by the Australian Government, the NSW Government and Tamworth Regional Council. This augmentation is expected to be completed during 2014 and involves raising the dam wall by 8 m and subsequent works to raise the morning glory spillway and bridge deck. These works will increase the full supply level of the dam by 6.5 m, the dam's capacity from 62 GL to 100 GL and ensure it can withstand the maximum possible flood. The project also involves a realignment of roads on the western foreshore; the Tamworth-Nundle Road, and River Road.

Etymology

The dam is named in honor of Frank Chaffey, who represented Tamworth in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1913 and 1940, and his son, [[Bill Nye

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