Chaffey Dam
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  north of Nundle and  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  of rock fill is  high and is  long. The maximum water depth is  and at 100% capacity the dam wall holds back  of water at  AHD. The surface area of the reservoir is  and the catchment area is . The dam uses an unusual concrete morning glory bell-shaped uncontrolled spillway which is capable of discharging . The spillway measures  in diameter and tapers down to . The spillway tower is  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  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  and subsequent works to raise the morning glory spillway and bridge deck. These works will increase the full supply level of the dam by , the dam's capacity from  to  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
|Bill]], who represented the same seat between 1940 and 1973. Gallery

See also

 List of dams and reservoirs in New South Wales

References

External links

 
 

Dams in New South Wales
Dams completed in 1979
New England (New South Wales)
Northern Tablelands
Embankment dams