Lostock Dam


Lostock Dam is a minor rockfill and clay core embankment dam with a concrete lined, flip bucket spillway across the Paterson River upstream of the village of East Gresford in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's purpose includes flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply and conservation. Mini hydro-power facilities were retrofitted in 2010. The impounded reservoir is also called Lostock Dam.

Location and features

Commenced in 1969 and completed in 1971, the Lostock Dam is a minor dam on the Paterson River, a tributary of the Hunter River, and is located approximately from both Maitland and Singleton, and also north-west of Newcastle, on the upper reaches of the river. The dam was built by Dumez Australia under contract to the New South Wales Water Department of Land and Water Conservation following the drought of 1964-66. At that time there was a need for a water conservation storage in the Paterson Valley to stabilise and further develop rural productivity.
The dam wall height is 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 ungated concrete lined, flip bucket chute spillway is capable of discharging.
The name of the dam originates from the village of the same name, located approximately downstream from the dam wall.

Power generation

A mini hydro-electric power station generates up to of electricity from the flow of the water leaving Lostock Dam. Constructed by Heidemann Hydro Australia, the facility is managed by Delta Electricity.