KAREEYA AND KOOMBOOLOOMBA HYDRO POWER STATIONS
For the past 60 years the Kareeya Hydroelectric Power Station, situated on Jirrbal Country, has been taking advantage of Australia’s wettest area – the Tully region of Far North Queensland. Utilising the abundant water resources from the Tully River and Koombooloomba Dam, Kareeya Hydro generates 88MW of clean energy and is one of CleanCo’s key players in our efforts to decarbonise Queensland industries.
CleanCo pays its respect to the past, present and emerging elders of the Jirrbal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Kareeya Hydro operates.
Operations
- Technology: Run-of-river hydro
- Capacity: 88MW
- Commissioned: 1957
- Location: Tully region
Beginning at the Koombooloomba Dam, water flows through Koombooloomba Hydro (7MW) then down to Kareeya Hydro, where it goes through four powerful 22MW generators to produce a total of 88MW.
After the water has been used, it’s released back into the Tully River in the same pristine condition as when it entered the power station.
History
The Kareeya Hydro has been an important landmark in the Tully region for many years. With the start of construction in 1950, an influx of eager workers made their way to the region. In need of a place to live close to the power station, Cardstone Village was established in 1955. In the village stood a post office, school and 29 households- creating a strong sense of community around the Kareeya Power Station. Similarly, Koombooloomba Village was created over at the Dam.
Although the two sites are relatively close, access wasn’t easy due to the dense, rocky terrain with alternative routes taking as long as two hours. To shorten the commute, a cable car was built in 1973, measuring in at 852 metres long and 472 metres high.
This cable car is still being used today to transport staff from the power station up to the dam and takes less than a 15-minute journey.
