Moondarra Reservoir
Moondarra Reservoir, Gippsland Water's largest catchment area, is the principle water supply system for the Latrobe Valley. In this section, you can find more information about:
Moondarra water supply
Situated on the Tyers River, the Moondarra Reservoir has a capacity of 30,300 megalitres (ML) and supplies water to Morwell, Traralgon, Churchill, Glengarry, Rosedale, and Tyers. It also supplies major industry in the region. Its capacity is slightly less than half the amount of water consumed annually. The total annual demand on Moondarra is 64,000 ML. (One megalitre = 1,000,000 litres).
Moondarra Reservoir is nestled in the foothills of the Baw Baw Ranges, approximately a 10-minute drive out of the township of Erica. In years of drought, Gippsland Water has some drought relief storage that is available to top up Moondarra. A pipeline runs from Blue Rock Lake (which is owned by Southern Rural Water) to Moondarra.
Moondarra yields a good quality raw water supply, which is attributable to it being a controlled catchment. The entire catchment spans 275 square kilometres. The water produced by Moondarra requires some treatment by a water treatment plant to make it safe for drinking.
The end product is a drinking water supply that is of high quality for household use which fully complies with World Health Organisation Drinking Water Guidelines.
| Reservoir statistics |
|
| Capacity |
30,300ML
|
| Surface area |
242 Ha
|
| Maximum depth |
35m
|
| Catchment area |
275 sq km
|
| |
|
| Embankment statistics |
|
| Height |
41.2m
|
| Length of crest |
335.5m
|
| Width of crest |
7.6m
|
| |
|
| Spillway |
|
| Free overall crest width |
113.0m
|
| Peak overflow |
138,000 Ml/day (Tyers River)
|
| Peak reservoir level |
170.5m
|
| Height of crest/overflow |
166.16m
|
Moondarra water storage level
Click here to view enlarged graph
Updated 30 August 2010. This graph is updated weekly.
Recreation at Moondarra
 Moondarra Reservoir's recreation facilities lie within a beautifully landscaped park setting. Large native and European trees shade the picnic and barbeque areas, which overlook the reservoir. Public toilets are provided with facilities for the handicapped. The park also features three picturesque nature trails, which range from a pleasant 10-minute walk to a four hour hike through the bush land surrounding.
The Cecil Inn is located in the picnic grounds. It is the former tavern that served the township of Gould. The building was  located on the floor of the reservoir and Gippsland Water salvaged and restored it, placing it where it is located today. The Cecil Inn is available for group bookings. A key can be arranged by contacting Gippsland Water.
Access to the shores of Moondarra is prohibited as the reservoir provides the region's drinking water and must be protected from contamination, to ensure the health of the community is protected. |