Chaffey Dam

Located just upstream of the Tamworth city, in the New England region of New South Wales, is the Chaffey Dam - a rock fill dam built across the Peel River.

The dam's primary purpose is flood mitigation, irrigation, water supply, and water conservation. The Chaffey Dam was constructed between 1976 and 1979, around 16 km north of Nundle and approximately 44 km southeast of Tamworth. The dam's uncontrolled morning glory spillway, which discharges water directly into the Peel River, is one of the unique features of this multipurpose dam.

The dam's embankment comprises of 1,413 cubic metres of rock-fill and clay core, making it 55.8 metres high and 430 metres long. With a maximum water depth of 30 metres, the reservoir has a 62,830 megalitre capacity when full. The catchment area for the dam is 420 square kilometres, while the surface area of the Chaffey Dam's reservoir is 542 hectares.

The concrete spillway, shaped like a bell at the top, is another unique feature of this dam. The spillway is designed to taper down from 25.81 metres in diameter to 7.72 metres, with the spillway tower standing impressive 35.1 metres high. The spillway has a discharge rate of 903 cubic metres per second.

Thanks to its impressive size and unique design features, the Chaffey Dam has become a popular spot for public recreation in the New England region. Visitors to the dam can enjoy swimming, sailing, boating, and fishing. The Peel River, which is fed