Clutha Dam By stewartan Jan 1, 1945 Investigations begin damming the Clutha Period: Jan 1, 1945 to May 1, 2012 The Clutha Damming history Jan 1, 1948 Building Roxbrugh Dam Jan 1, 1963 Investigations begin for building another dam Jan 1, 1971 Environmental effects of damming the river are realised. This is when a lot of the protesting begins Jan 1, 1976 A site scelected for Clyde Dam Jan 1, 1977 Bulldozers start ground work before Water Right has been granted Jan 1, 1977 Water Right granted but for a low dam not a high dam. High dam being build without permission Jan 1, 1979 Buildings begin on the right side of the dam Jan 1, 1981 Government agrees to the constuction of a high dam Jan 1, 1981 Government puts out tender for building the dam Jan 1, 1982 Tender accepted at a cost of 10.6 million dollars Jan 1, 1982 Fault line discovered. Dam redisigned to cope Jan 1, 1987 Work on dam with over 1000 employed to site Jan 1, 1990 Gorge stabilization is complete Jan 1, 1993 Dam is complete and reservoir fills Cromwell gorge Apr 23, 1994 Dam is officially opened Jan 1, 2004 EME from Australia gets 51% share holdings of Contact Energy Jan 1, 2009 Contact Energy release plans for another 5 dams on the Clutha May 1, 2012 Contact Energy officialy withdraws any mor plans for damming on the Clutha Jan 1, 2015 Electrocorp who had ownership of the dam has split into two state owned assets. Contact Energy is now the operator of the Clyde and Roxbrugh dams