Eraring Power Station

Item details

Name of item: Eraring Power Station
Type of item: Built
Group/Collection: Utilities - Electricity
Category: Electricity Generator/Power Station - coal/gas/oil
Primary address: 268 and 294 Rocky Point Road, Eraring, NSW 2264
Parish: Coorumbung
County: Northumberland
Local govt. area: Lake Macquarie
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
268 and 294 Rocky Point RoadEraringLake MacquarieCoorumbungNorthumberlandPrimary Address
Entrance in Rocky Point RoadEraringLake MacquarieCoorumbungNorthumberlandAlternate Address
115, 215, 235 and 260 Construction RoadMyuna BayLake MacquarieCoorumbungNorthumberlandAlternate Address

Statement of significance:

SIGNIFICANCE - 1993: Apart from Pasminco (the Sulphide Corporation), Eraring Power Station is the biggest industrial undertaking around the Lake, and one of the biggest in the Hunter region. Eraring contrasts strongly with nearby Wangi P.S. in size of units (660 MW x 4 to Wangi's 50 MW x 3 & 60 MW x 3) and in design philosophy - Eraring was designed as a utilitarian structure, with minimal concessions to appearance, while Wangi was designed to express its function without sacrificing a pleasing appearance.
Eraring represents the "State of the Art" in its technology, and is one of the biggest power stations in the State. It is undoubtedly highly significant, although considering its youth, it is arguable whether Eraring yet qualifies as a heritage item.
Doring 2008: However, consider its social significance to Lake Macquarie, and its position as the natural successor to Wangi Power Station - almost within sight of Wangi, using the same coal sources, and employing the same people and families.
LEVEL of SIGNIFICANCE - 1993: State Significance - high
Regional Significance - high
Local Significance - high
Date significance updated: 14 May 08
Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description

Construction years: 1976-1984
Physical description: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS - 1993:
Architectural style: Industrail utilitarian (form follows function exactly)
Material: Frames - Turbines - steel portals
Boilers - steel skeleton frame
Roof - Colorbond steel
Walls/Cladding - Colorbond steel sheet on turbine house, concrete chimneys
Windows - industrial glazing
Floors - concrete
Interior - ?
The power station has open steel frame around boilers, portal frame building covering turbo-generators.Eraring Power Station consists of (west to east) switchyard, cooling water canal (taking water from the Lake at Bonnell's Bay, south of the power station), turbine hall, auxiliary bay, boilers, ash filters, stacks and cooling water outlet tunnel and canal ending in Myuna Bay .
Housing for these structures is basic, only used to protect vulnerable machinery from weather.
Each of the 4 turbo-generators is 50 metres long and produces 660 Megawatts of electricity.
The 4 boilers are 80 metres high and burn 6.5 million tons of coal per year.
Bag filters are used to collect ash.
The 2 stacks are 200 metres high and visible from far across the lake.
Modifications and dates: none known
Current use: 1993: electric power generation

History

Historical notes: HISTORICAL NOTES - 1993: Eraring was the 5th power station designed and built by Elcom, after Wallerawang, Vales Point, Munmorah & Liddell.
Construction began 1976, the 1st unit was commissioned in March 1982, the last in 1984.
It employs about 600 people.
The only power station equalling Eraring in size is Bayswater in the Upper Hunter.

Recommended management:

RECOMMENDATION - 1993 & 2008: Consider nominating Eraring Power Station for the State Heritage Register. This should be done while Eraring is still operating as a base load power station, to ensure wide recognition of its significance. Encourage the undertaking of a CMP. Organise an Oral History programme for older and former employees.

Recommendations

Management CategoryDescriptionDate Updated
Statutory InstrumentList on a Local Environmental Plan (LEP)23 May 08
Statutory InstrumentNominate for State Heritage Register (SHR)14 May 08
Recommended ManagementProduce a Conservation Management Plan (CMP)23 May 08
Recommended ManagementDocument and prepare an archival record23 May 08

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Local Environmental PlanLake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 20149310 Oct 14   
Local Environmental PlanLake Macquarie Local Environmental Plan 2004ER-0119 Mar 14   

Study details

TitleYearNumberAuthorInspected byGuidelines used
City of Lake Macquarie Heritage Study1993ER-01Suters Architects Snell, Dr J. Turner, C & MJ Doring Pty LtdDoring Yes

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
Written  Public information pamphlets on power stations, including Eraring
WrittenC & MJ Doring1992Vales Point Power Station - Heritage Study
WrittenC & MJ Doring1990Wangi Power Station - Heritage Study
WrittenNilsen, L. (ed)1985Lake Macquarie: Past and Present

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Local Government
Database number: 1910095


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