News

TUMUT 3 POWER STATION OPEN DAY – REGISTER NOW

04/10/2022

It’s Tumut 3 Power Station’s 50th birthday and to mark the occasion, Snowy Hydro is celebrating with a community open day on Saturday 5 November!

We have a wide range of activities, tours and information sessions planned onsite at Tumut 3 (T3) in Talbingo, so register now – it’s easy, just visit our website and complete the online form.

Acting Snowy Hydro CEO Roger Whitby said the iconic white penstocks of T3 were known throughout Australia and a visit to the station would provide the public with an insight into Snowy Hydro’s operations.

“We are delighted to welcome the community to an open day at T3, which is the largest power station in the Snowy Scheme and the first and biggest pumped-hydro facility in Australia,” Mr Whitby said.

“We’re celebrating the station’s 50th birthday, which underlines the longevity and critical nature of the Snowy Scheme hydro generation and storage assets.

“We understand visiting T3 would be a major highlight for many people so we’re asking that everyone who intends to come along on Saturday 5 November registers online.

“They will be contacted with important information prior to the event.”

Once you have registered for the Tumut 3 Power Station 50th celebration and open day, please plan your trip, as parking for private vehicles will be limited. There will also be bus transport available, with coaches departing from Tumut and Cooma on the day.

Open day highlights:

Tours of Tumut 3 Power Station
Bus tours to Talbingo Reservoir and the top of Tumut 3 penstocks.
Fun and educational activities hosted by the Snowy Hydro Next Generation education program.
Local vendors will provide food and coffee throughout the festivities.
A range of activities and entertainment are also planned for the celebrations.

Keep checking the official event web page, which will be progressively updated with information and stay tuned to Snowy Hydro’s social media channels.

News

SNOWY HYDRO COMMUNITY GRANTS ROUND 2 – APPLY NOW!

09/09/2022

Do you have a project, activity or event that benefits the local communities of the Snowy Mountains and surrounds? You may be eligible for a Snowy Hydro community grant of up to $10,000.

Snowy Hydro is a long-time major supporter of local people and community initiatives, with the 2022 community grants program now open for round 2 applications.

Snowy Hydro Acting CEO Roger Whitby said the company was pleased to provide grant funding opportunities to local not-for-profit organisations.

“We are proud to be a part of our local communities and want to support the great ideas and energy of people contributing positively to them.

“Our grants are available for projects and events that align with Snowy Hydro’s four social commitment pillars of education and development, health and wellbeing, regional capacity building and environment.”

In the first round of Snowy Hydro’s Community Grants Program earlier this year, there were more than 30 grant applications, with 13 receiving funding. Projects and initiatives that were supported included a Cooma Landcare rehabilitation project, establishment of an indigenous interpretive walking trail in Tumbarumba, and the Hume & Hovell ultra marathon event through Corryong and Khancoban.

Mr Whitby encouraged community members to find out more about the community grants program. “If you have an event or initiative that may be eligible for support, I encourage you to apply,” he said.

All applications must be received via the online form on our website. Please also carefully review associated information about grants eligibility, assessment criteria and Snowy Hydro’s grant guidelines before applying, to avoid disappointment.

Importantly, the location of the event/initiative must be within the Snowy Monaro Regional and Snowy Valleys council areas, or in Corryong, Victoria.

Applications for round 2 of the Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program must be received by Saturday 15 October. Following the evaluation period, applicants will be advised of the outcome by 30 November 2022.

News

DRIVING HOME ROAD SAFETY TO THE NEXT GENERATION

13/05/2022

Snowy Hydro is committed to ensuring the next generation of locals are equipped with the skills and knowledge to help keep them safe on the roads, with the long-running Young Driver Program playing a crucial role.

For four years Snowy Hydro has partnered with Driving Solutions to provide local students with young driver training. This month more than 275 local young people participated in the program, which helps prepare Learner and Provisional drivers for the driving conditions they face on Snowy Mountains roads.

Since its inception in 2002, the Snowy Hydro Young Driver Program has provided more than 1,600 local students with the opportunity to improve their driving skills and become safer drivers.

Snowy Hydro CEO and Managing Director Paul Broad said the program demonstrated Snowy Hydro’s continued commitment to the safety and well-being of young people living in the Snowy Mountains region.

“The Snowy Hydro Young Driver Program delivers learning exercises and activities that give our local kids the skills and knowledge to help keep them safe on our unique and at times, challenging, mountain roads,” Mr Broad said.

“These young and inexperienced drivers gain so much from the program – it’s really valuable and we at Snowy Hydro are proud to play a part in ensuring greater safety on the roads where we live and work.”

The program covered topics such as correct seating position and the importance of understanding the difference between vehicles with anti-lock brake systems (ABS) and vehicles without ABS. Students were taught when to fit snow chains on their vehicles while travelling in snow and ice conditions. They were also shown the correct way to use and fit snow chains on a vehicle.
The activities and exercises provided useful and practical knowledge to assist the students when behind the wheel. Topics included driver attitudes and the effects of distractions when driving, such as mobile phones, passengers and vehicle navigation. Other practical skills were also discussed including how to understand correct and incorrect tyre pressure on their vehicles.

News

SNOWY HYDRO DRIVING INCREASED NSW POLICE HIGHWAY PATROLS

28/04/2022

A new road safety commitment between Snowy Hydro and NSW Police is increasing highway patrols in the Snowy Mountains over the coming three years.

Two highway patrol vehicles and five more police officers are now available for patrols on the Snowy Mountains Highway and other local roads – including one new four-wheel drive highway patrol vehicle and two new police officers that have been co-funded by Snowy Hydro and NSW Police.

The other resources have been redeployed to the area from across the Southern Region Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said the company’s support for NSW Police’s local road safety operations would benefit all road users.

“Safety is, and always will be, the highest priority for Snowy Hydro,” Mr Broad said. “We are proud to be supporting this joint initiative with NSW Police to increase highway patrols throughout the Snowy Mountains. These are the communities in which we live, work and serve.”

Mr Broad said the commitment complemented Snowy Hydro’s recent collaboration with the NSW government to boost mobile phone coverage along the Snowy Mountains Highway.

The $1.3 million joint funding has delivered new small cell antennas at three priority sites between Talbingo and Adaminaby, with installations at two more sites – Tantangara Road and Lobs Hole Ravine Road – soon to go live.

“This is a great outcome for community safety, with these important initiatives focusing on roads used by hundreds of thousands of people, including locals, tourists, workers and the transport industry,” he said.

The additional police presence aims to act as a deterrent to poor driver behaviour on the Snowy Mountains Highway and other roads including Link and Goat Ridge roads. It also provides extra capacity for police undertaking highway patrol functions including alcohol and drug testing, checking heavy vehicle compliance and timely emergency response.

For more information about Snowy 2.0 visit snowyhydro.com.au

ENDS

News

University of Sydney to be powered by 100% renewable electricity new partnership with Snowy Hydro and Red Energy

06/04/2022

From 1 July 2022 the University of Sydney will be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity.

The University has signed a five-year contract with Red Energy, backed by the mighty Snowy Hydro, to source 100 percent of its electricity in NSW from renewable sources. Once the contract begins, the University’s activities will be powered by solar energy.

As well as operations across campuses and University-run student accommodation, the contract will cover energy supply for Moore College, Sancta Sophia College, St Andrew’s College, St Paul’s College, the Women’s College and Wesley College. The positive impact will be in excess of removing 31,200 cars from the road.

The move brings the University a step closer to its target of net zero emissions by 2030.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott said the shift to renewable electricity reflected the University’s deep commitment to a more sustainable future.

“We are making the move to 100 percent renewable electricity three years before our target of 2025,” he said.

“This agreement will power our research and teaching while reducing emissions. We are delighted to be working together with Snowy Hydro and Red Energy to achieve the ambitious energy targets set out in our sustainability strategy.

“We know reducing emissions to combat climate change is a priority for our staff and students and we are committed to embedding sustainability in every aspect of University life.”

Paul Broad, Managing Director and CEO of Snowy Hydro, which owns Red Energy, welcomed the partnership and the role it will play as Australia’s economy decarbonises and transitions to renewables.

“At Snowy Hydro, we have lived, breathed and delivered renewable energy to Australians through the mighty Snowy Scheme for generations. We are committed to continuing this legacy and leading the charge to a renewable energy future by working with large institutions like the University of Sydney.

“Combining our contracted wind and solar energy with our on-demand hydro assets allows us to provide reliable and 100 percent renewable electricity to the University.”

The switch to renewable electricity is one of a range of initiatives under the University’s sustainability strategy. The institution has committed to sending zero waste to landfill by 2030 and to the eradication of single-use plastic on campus by 2025.

The University is working to integrate sustainable practices across operations, teaching and research, with steps including the Gelion solar smart bench roll-out last year and the recent installation of a biodigester to process organic waste into compost.

How University’s renewable energy supply will work

Power consumed by the University of Sydney will be matched by generation from a NSW solar farm or, in certain instances, other renewable facilities in the state. The associated Large Scale Generation Certificates will be surrendered by Red Energy to evidence that renewable generation has been exported into the National Electricity Market at quantities equivalent to the University’s load.

News

SNOWY HYDRO COMMUNITY GRANTS – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

07/02/2022

Snowy Hydro’s long-standing commitment to supporting local people and initiatives continues in 2022, with applications now open for round one of its community grants program.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for activities, projects and events that align with Snowy Hydro’s four social commitment pillars: education and development, health and wellbeing, regional capacity building and environment.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said the aim of the grants program was to support and deliver positive and lasting outcomes for communities in the local region.

“This is very important to us because these are the communities in which we live, work and serve,” Mr Broad said. “We’re not only a major employer, operator of the mighty Snowy Scheme and provider of electricity and gas to more than 1.1 million account holders – we take our role as part of the community very seriously.

“Snowy Hydro is proud to provide grant funding opportunities to local organisations, so if you have an event or initiative that may be eligible for support, I encourage you to apply.”

The Snowy Hydro Community Grants Program has two intake periods, with the first for this year open from Tuesday 1 February until 15 March 2022. Following the evaluation period, applicants are advised of the outcome in the first week of April.

There is a second application period starting on 1 September 2022.

All applications must be received via the online form on our website, where there is more information about grants eligibility, assessment criteria and an overview of Snowy Hydro’s community commitment pillars.

Importantly, the location of the event/initiative must be within the Snowy Monaro Regional and Snowy Valleys council areas, or in Corryong, Victoria.

News

LAUNCH OF THE SNOWY 2.0 VIRTUAL TOUR

31/01/2022

Snowy Hydro has launched a Snowy 2.0 virtual tour, to provide the public with a ‘window’ into the pumped-hydro megaproject’s key construction sites.

The virtual tour is a web-based platform and is fully optimised for mobile phones – no app download is required.

People can check out the action, world-class engineering and construction progress through the interactive website application, 3D animations, 360 degree panoramic images and unique video content.

Snowy Hydro Managing Director and CEO, Paul Broad, said the virtual tour gave viewers a bird’s eye view of Australia’s largest renewable energy project being built in a remote part of the Snowy Mountains.

“You can navigate your own way around the various sites and simply click on the blue information dots to read about the latest Snowy 2.0 construction activities and see all three of the tunnel boring machines,” Mr Broad said.

“It’s a great tool to raise awareness and knowledge of the project among the community and to share the many construction milestones we are achieving together with our principal contractor, Future Generation Joint Venture.”

The Snowy 2.0 virtual tour has been built using the Esri online mapping application ArcGIS, which gives users access to incredibly accurate spatial data and imagery for both desktop and mobile use.

Take the Snowy 2.0 virtual tour here: https://snowy2tour.snowyhydro.com.au/

Snowy 2.0 project background: Snowy 2.0 will link two existing Snowy Scheme reservoirs, Tantangara and Talbingo, with 27km of waterway tunnels and a power station with six pump-turbines located about 800m underground. Water in the top storage will be released for energy generation at times of peak demand and pumped back at times when there is excess energy in the grid, so Snowy 2.0 is ready to meet demand when needed.

Snowy 2.o will provide 2,000 megawatts of pumping and generating capacity and 350,000 megawatt hours of storage that will underpin Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future.
For more information about the Snowy 2.0 project, visit snowyhydro.com.au

News

FREE TRAINING TO HELP LOCALS LAND SNOWY 2.0 JOBS

12/11/2021

A graduation ceremony has been held today in Wagga Wagga for Aboriginal people who have completed a fee-free skills training program as part of the multi-billion dollar Snowy 2.0 project.

Nine participants in the program celebrated their graduation at an event attended by the Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack MP and Wagga Mayor, Greg Conkey. Another program participant is already employed at the Snowy 2.0 concrete segment factory in Cooma.

The seven-week pre-employment training was an initiative of Snowy Hydro’s Snowy 2.0 principal contractor, Future Generation Joint Venture, and funded by Training Services NSW.

Snowy 2.0 is the largest renewable energy project in Australia and will utilise pumped hydro to significantly expand the Snowy Scheme. It will deliver on-demand power to 500,000 homes at the same time, and large-scale storage to underpin thousands of megawatts of intermittent renewables. Two existing dams are being connected as part of the project through 27-kilometres of tunnels and a new underground power station.

The Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said this was a great example of upskilling people in the regions to benefit from major infrastructure projects.

“This $5.1 billion Snowy Hydro project is expected to create 4,000 jobs over the life of the project, and it’s important that local people get the opportunity to work on it,” Mr Lee said.

The program saw participants learn to carry out and measure calculations, use construction tools and equipment and meet WHS requirements.

Future Generation, in partnership with TAFE NSW, developed the program after consultation with the Aboriginal community, and included yarning circles and Indigenous artworks.

Snowy Hydro Relations Manager Dean Lynch said the training and upskilling opportunities associated with Snowy 2.0 would create an important legacy.

“At Snowy Hydro we have a long-established culture of providing learning opportunities for employees and we are delighted that through Snowy 2.0 we can generate education and ongoing benefits for local and regional communities. This training is helping people acquire skills that make them job-ready and will be great not only for Snowy 2.0, but other construction projects in the future.”

The program is thanks to collaboration between Training Services and TAFE NSW, NIAA, NSW

Aboriginal Affairs, Corporate Connexions, Department of Education Skills & Employment, Job Active providers and all the present and emerging elders who have been directly involved.

News

LOCAL PRECAST FACTORY LAUNCHED FOR SNOWY 2.0

18/10/2021

LOCAL PRECAST FACTORY LAUNCHED FOR SNOWY 2.0

Snowy Hydro has launched its new Snowy 2.0 precast factory in Cooma, where 130,000 concrete segments are being produced locally to line the tunnels for the major pumped-hydro project.

Snowy 2.0 is a nation-building project that will underpin thousands of megawatts of renewables and will continue to keep the lights on for generations to come.

The $5.1 billion Snowy 2.0 project is powering ahead, delivering jobs and significant economic benefit to the regions. More than 1,200 people are already working on the project including over 220 jobs during the segment factory construction and operation.

Snowy Hydro CEO and Managing Director Paul Broad said he was pleased to see many locals employed at the factory as part of Snowy 2.0.

“Right from the start, we wanted to build this factory locally rather than import segments from overseas or interstate because it meant local jobs, opportunities and investment,” Mr Broad said.

“So it’s with great pride that we celebrate the official launch of this critical facility for Snowy 2.0 alongside our principal contractor and factory operator Future Generation Joint Venture.”

The factory operations include a concrete batching plant and two automated carousels, producing up to 24 rings, each one made of nine segments, per day.

Raw materials are sourced from the local area to mix concrete within the batching plant, which is then transferred into the factory and poured into specially-designed moulds every 10 minutes.

In a recycling initiative, around 70,000 tonnes of slag – a by-product of the steel manufacturing process – is used to produce the segments. This reduces the amount of cement required by 40 per cent.

The segments will supply the three Snowy 2.0 tunnel boring machines as they excavate and line more than 27 kilometres of tunnels between Tantangara and Talbingo reservoirs.

The Lady Eileen Hudson TBM is well underway excavating the main access tunnel (currently more than 600 metres in), and the second machine, TBM Kirsten, is being assembled ready for commissioning and launch.

News

SNOWY 2.0 POWERED BY LOCALS – FIND OUT MORE!

03/06/2021

Local community members, including business owners, are invited to find out more about Snowy 2.0 project progress and opportunities at an information session being held at the Cooma Car Club on Thursday 3 June, starting at 5.30pm.

Snowy Hydro and Snowy 2.0 principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture, with the support of the Cooma Chamber of Commerce, are hosting the event to provide updates about the project, particularly in relation to jobs and local business involvement.

Hear from the Snowy 2.0 project team about:

Local procurement and the pre-qualification process for suppliers;
Job opportunities for locals;
Current construction activities and news
Traffic management updates.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said Snowy 2.0 was playing a significant role as the Snowy Mountains region bounced back from the lows of bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic.

“There are more than 150 local businesses across the region already involved with Snowy 2.0 and together with Future Generation, we are working hard to provide even more supplier opportunities.

“I’m sure people have questions to ask so I would encourage everyone to come along to the information session to hear the latest news about Snowy 2.0 and learn more about business, training and work opportunities,” Mr Broad said.

There will be formal presentations and Q&As at the Cooma event, plus the chance to speak one-on-one with project team members while enjoying light refreshments.

Snowy 2.0 Business and Community Information Session

Date and time: Thursday 3 June, 5.30pm (for a 6pm start) – 7.30pm

Where: Cooma Car Club, 11 Bolaro St, Cooma

No RSVP required.

News

LOCAL STUDENTS’ CHANCE TO NAME A SNOWY 2.0 TUNNEL BORING MACHINE

26/04/2021

Calling all year 5-12 school students in the Snowy Mountains!

Before Snowy Hydro’s newest tunnel boring machines (TBMs) start digging the Snowy 2.0 tunnels, they need to have names – and we want school students in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council and Snowy Valleys Council areas, and the Corryong township, to come up with their best STEM-related suggestions as part of our TBM Naming Competition.

There are two TBMs to be named, with the first Snowy 2.0 TBM already titled the Lady Eileen Hudson, in honour of original Snowy Scheme ambassador and the wife of inaugural Commissioner, Sir William Hudson.

TBMs are always given female names, a tradition stemming from the 1600s when miners working underground prayed to Saint Barbara for protection.

To be a part of the Snowy 2.0 TBM Naming Competition, students should nominate a ground-breaking or inspiring Australian woman in STEM and explain their choice in 200 words or less. The students whose shortlisted names gain the most public votes are the winners.

Snowy Hydro managing director and CEO Paul Broad said the competition was a fun way to spark children’s interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

“We see our local kids as the future – the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators at Snowy Hydro,” Mr Broad said.

“Snowy 2.0 is a nationally-important infrastructure and engineering project right here in the Snowy Mountains, so the chance to name one of our massive, 11-metre tunnel boring machines is an exciting opportunity. I encourage local students to get involved in the competition.”

To enter the Snowy 2.0 TBM Naming Competition, local students in years 5-12 should:

Complete the entry form on the Snowy Hydro website by 11.59pm Sunday 23 May 2021.
Nominate a TBM name inspired by a ground-breaking Australian woman in STEM and the reason for your choice (up to 200 words) on the competition webpage.
Provide your parent or guardian’s name, email and street address and phone number so you can be contacted if your nomination is shortlisted for the community online vote.

Snowy Hydro will choose a shortlist from the names suggested by students for a public, online vote in June – keep an eye on Snowy Hydro’s social media channels and the Snowy Hydro website for details.

The two most popular names, as voted by the public, will be used to identify the Snowy 2.0 TBMs and the students who nominated them will receive a visit to the Snowy 2.0 construction site to see a TBM before it goes underground, plus a VIP experience at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma.

The Snowy 2.0 project is a nationally-significant renewable energy project that will provide 2,000 megawatts of on-demand energy and large-scale storage, underpinning Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

Together, the three Snowy 2.0 tunnel boring machines will excavate 27km of tunnels linking Tantangara and Talbingo dams, with a pumped-hydro power station to be built 800 metres below ground.

To enter, and for competition T&Cs, visit the competition page at snowyhydro.com.au

News

LAUNCH OF SNOWY HYDRO’S ONLINE EDUCATION HUB

01/03/2021

Snowy Hydro is excited to officially launch its Australian curriculum-aligned online
education platform, the Next Generation Education Hub. This digital learning platform
aims to spark an interest in STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and maths)
subjects for young people.

Snowy Hydro has a proud history of supporting the next generation of innovators by
providing in-person programs to both local and visiting schools at the Discovery Centre
in Cooma. The Next Generation Education Hub allows us to take these learning
experiences online to be more accessible to students across the Snowy Mountains.
The Next Generation Education Hub has been developed to offer study material across
the STEM subjects, as well as history and geography. Learning modules cover elements
of engineering and power generation, the history of the Snowy Scheme, Snowy 2.0 – all
based on the past, present and future of the Snowy Scheme.

Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad said: “Snowy Hydro has a proud Australian history of
innovation and engineering excellence. We are delighted to provide an online education
platform to inspire the next generation of young Australian minds.

“The Next Generation Education Hub will bring the Snowy Scheme back into the
classroom,” he said.

The education hub provides easy-to-access teaching materials including downloadable
fact sheets, activity sheets and learning resources with lesson plans and additional
extension activities. It also features the Snowy 2.0 digital pop-book which brings the
Snowy 2.0 project to life for young minds.

The platform provides engaging, critical thinking opportunities with fun, practical
activities including making snow, building a turbine and creating precipitation.
The education programs at the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre have been redesigned
for the 2021 school year. With three different packages available and optional extras
including ‘meet a real-life engineer’ and dam-building demonstrations, there is
something to suit all learning needs .

For more information on the tailored programs available to local schools contact
education@snowyhydro.com.au