Hydro Tasmania has awarded the contract to upgrade the Edgar Dam to Tasmanian civil construction company Hall Earthmoving. Work on the project will begin in late January 2025.
Jesse Clark, Hydro Tasmania’s Executive General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, highlighted the value of engaging a local contractor.
“We’re fortunate to have a local family-owned business that can carry out technical works of this scale right at home in Tasmania,” Clark said.
Built in 1972, Edgar Dam is part of the Gordon-Pedder hydropower scheme, which contributes up to 13 percent of Tasmania’s electricity. The upgrade aims to strengthen the dam to better withstand movement in the unlikely event of a major earthquake.
Chris Hall, Director of Hall Earthmoving, said the contract represents a significant milestone for the family business, which was founded 40 years ago by his father, Mick Hall.
“We’re very happy that we’ve got this project. Working for Hydro Tasmania in this capacity has been a long-term goal of the business,” Hall said. “The Edgar Dam project is something I’m very passionate about, my team’s very passionate about, and I’ve got a great mentor in my father.”
The project will adhere to stringent environmental controls due to its location in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Hydro Tasmania has implemented measures such as vehicle and machinery washdowns, limited driving hours, downward-facing dim lighting, and low-noise emissions at night.
Hall noted his company’s experience in working in remote and environmentally sensitive areas. “It’s a big task but we feel confident because we have experience working in these kinds of areas, like on the West Coast, and understand how remote and sensitive that environment is,” he said.
The Edgar Dam campground and boat ramp will be closed during the project, which is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
