en.Wedoany.com Reported - Hydro Tasmania has completed the $35.5 million upgrade of Edgar Dam in Tasmania, finishing four months ahead of schedule.

Located in Tasmania's remote southwest, within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the project aimed to strengthen the dam's seismic resilience to further reduce the already low risk posed by a major earthquake on the nearby Lake Edgar Fault. The project was delivered in partnership with Entura, the consulting division of Hydro Tasmania, with Tasmanian civil engineering company Hall Earthmoving serving as the principal contractor.

Key construction works included the installation of a filter buttress along the downstream face of the dam, a new crest wall, and seepage control measures on the upstream side. The project brought to a close more than a decade of planning, investigation, design, and delivery work.

Hydro Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Rachel Watson said the completion of the Edgar Dam upgrade four months ahead of schedule was an outstanding achievement, reflecting the high level of skill, dedication, and collaboration demonstrated by Hall Earthmoving and the project team. She noted that the upgrade ensures Edgar Dam is more resilient in the highly unlikely event of a major earthquake.

Watson also highlighted the economic benefits of the project for Tasmania, with more than 95% of the project budget spent locally through Tasmanian contractors, suppliers, and specialist expertise. Projects like this support local jobs, skills, and business growth while delivering long-term benefits for Tasmania's renewable energy future.

Hydro Tasmania stated that environmental controls were implemented to protect the surrounding Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The project was referred under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with mitigation measures including vehicle and machinery washdown facilities, restricted travel times to protect threatened species, and water quality monitoring and management.

Watson said working in such a sensitive environment required careful planning and a strong commitment to protecting the natural values of the World Heritage Area, and that the team and contractors demonstrated that large-scale infrastructure projects can be delivered responsibly while meeting high environmental standards.

With construction complete, remaining work will focus on demobilisation and the restoration and rehabilitation of the Edgar Dam camp.