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The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was not built to stop power failures, as some have suggested.

The purpose of the scheme was to harness the massive power of the melting snow for the purposes of providing hydro-electricity, whilst at the same time storing water that could be used for towns, farming and irrigation. Instead of just having the water flowing into the Snowy River and eventually out to sea, the scheme aimed to actively use the water efficiently.

Economically, the scheme was and is important for several reasons. It provided work for tens of thousands of people at a time when unemployment was high. Started in 1949 the post-war period, it attracted migrants from all over the world, who helped contribute to the rich multiculturalism of Australia. It continues to supply necessary water to the farming industries of inland New South Wales and Victoria. The power stations of the Snowy Mountains Scheme also provide up to ten per cent of the electricity requirements for the entire state of New South Wales.

The scheme used sophisticated technology for its time, and this alone gave Australia greater status in an increasingly technology-driven world.

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14y ago
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15y ago

The Snowy Mountains Scheme was very important for Australia- it was the largest ever engineering scheme in Australia, it provided hydro power and also irrigation in the Murray River area, it attracted many immigrants who worked on it and many became Australian citizens.

Suggest you read the Wikipedia article 'Snowy Mountains Scheme'

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13y ago

The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was first proposed in 1918. However, it was not until 17 October 1949 that construction actually began. The scheme took over 25 years to complete.

See the related link below for more information about the history of the Scheme.

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10y ago

There were about 100,000 workers who came from forty countries all over the world to work on the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme. The largest group of workers were Australians, but 75% of the workers were migrants who were attracted to Australia by the promise of good wages for working on the scheme, particularly in the light of the post-World War II slump. The Italians made up the largest group of workers, and there were people from Poland, Germany, Serbia and Croatia (then still Yugoslavia), the USA, Netherlands, Romania and Greece, just to name a few.

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Q: Why was the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme built?
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How many people died trying to build the Snowy River?

The Snowy River is a natural landform, and was not built by anyone. As for how many people died building the Snowy mountains Hydroelectric Scheme - 121 men died while building it, and 53 of them were killed underground. The oldest person who died was 56, and e youngest was 16.


What is the Snowy Mountains hydroelectric scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts.The Snowy Mountains scheme generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was built between 1949 and 1975.


What are the countries that helped build the snowy mountains scheme?

Australia, New South Wales, America, built under the direction of engineer William Hudson. The Snowy Mountain Scheme was noted by its immigrant European workforce.


How many small dams were built during the snowy mountain scheme?

7


What the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts.The Snowy Mountains scheme generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was built between 1949 and 1975.


What are the advantages of the Snowy Mountains Scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. The Snowy Mountains Scheme has many advantages. It generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was built between 1949 and 1975.


How does work snowy mountain scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. The Snowy Mountains scheme generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was built between 1949 and 1975.


What was the Shannon Scheme 1927?

I believe it is a hydroelectric power station built on the Shannon River in 1927.


When was the Snowy River scheme built?

The Snowy River Scheme is probably more often referred to as the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. Construction began in 1949 and took 25 years to complete, so was finished in 1974. The hydroelectricity and irrigation complex was built in difficult terrain in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts, and provides power to the southeastern portion of the continent.


When was the Snowy Hydroelectric Scheme made?

Construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme began on 17 October 1949. It took 25 years to complete, so was finished in 1974. While 25 years may seem like a long time, the massive Scheme is very complex, and it was finished well under budget. The hydroelectricity and irrigation complex was built in difficult terrain in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts.


What is the Snowy Mountains scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme is a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex in south-east Australia, in the Australian Alps between Victoria and New South Wales. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the engineering world. The Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. The Snowy Mountains scheme generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow. The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was built between 1949 and 1975.


What are the negative effects of The Snowy Mountains Scheme?

The Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme had significant benefits while it was being built, and continues to have numerous benefits. As one of the wonders of the engineering world, the Scheme involves sixteen dams, seven power stations, a pumping station and over 225 km of tunnels, pipelines and aqueducts. This meant employing thousands of people in postwar Australia, and it also offed employment for thousandsmore migrants who were fleeing from their own war-torn countries. The Scheme offered these people the chance to rebuild their lives in a new country, with opportunities they would not have otherwise had. The Snowy Mountains Scheme has many advantages still now. It generates electricity and redistributes water to the Murray River, where it is used for farming and irrigation. The total electricity capability is up to about 3700 MW, which works out to roughly 10% of the needs of New South Wales, though this depends on having enough rainfall and melting snow.