Dams on the Clutha River By Hanna Scarlet Jan 1, 1945 Investigations begin potential damming Jan 1, 1948 Construction Roxburgh dam begins Jan 1, 1959 Lake Hawea control dam complete Jan 1, 1963 Huge investigations into building more dams Jan 1, 1971 Reports environmental effects of damming, protesting begins. Jan 1, 1976 Site selected Clyde Dam Jan 1, 1977 Bulldozes start groundwork before Water Right granted Jun 1, 1977 Water Right granted for low dam, high dam was being built. Jan 1, 1979 Building begins right side. Jan 1, 1981 Government agrees construction high dam Jun 1, 1981 Government tender building the dam Jan 1, 1982 Tender accepted 102.6 million dollars Jun 1, 1982 Fault line discovered redesigned slip joint Jan 1, 1987 1000 workers employed Jan 1, 1990 Gorge stabilization completed Jan 1, 1993 Complete reservoir flooding Cromwell Gorge Jan 1, 1994 Officially opened Jan 1, 1996 Electrocorp ownership split in two Contact Energy Clyde and Roxburgh dams Jan 1, 2004 EME (Edison Mission Energy) Australia 51.2% share Jan 1, 2009 Contact Energy release plans 5 dams clutha river Jan 1, 2012 Contact Energy officially withdraws plans