Potential long-term safety risks posed by ageing infrastructure and ongoing maintenance costs, have led Parks Victoria to explore options to decommission the Upper Teddington Reservoir at Kara Kara National Park.

The 130-year-old reservoir, which is located between Bendigo and the Grampians, was assessed by engineers in 2020 and was found to be in a deteriorating condition and below the acceptable risk level outlined by Australian guidelines. The assessment also determined that the ageing reservoir infrastructure could pose a significant future flooding risk to the nearby Stuart Mill community if not decommissioned.

To ensure public safety, options are now being considered for its decommissioning. These include partially removing or fully removing the dam structure.

To inform these decisions, Parks Victoria is currently undertaking detailed planning, environmental, heritage, cultural heritage, hydrological and geotechnical assessments.

The information gathered from these assessments will also be shared with local communities and people who currently enjoy visiting the reservoir.

Parks Victoria is also working closely with Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) who are leading the planning for nearby campground upgrades. The campground will continue to provide recreational and wellbeing benefits to both the local community and visitors. This project is one of many improvement programs that DJAARA are leading across six jointly managed Victorian parks.

The decommissioning of Upper Teddington Reservoir is a complex project and is expected to take around three years to complete. Information and updates will be maintained on the Parks Victoria website.

Quotes attributed to a Parks Victoria District Manager, Suzanne Hughes

“The safety of all park visitors is paramount to Parks Victoria. To keep Kara Kara National Park safe for the whole community, we’re investigating options to decommission the ageing Upper Teddington Reservoir.”

“We understand the future of the reservoir is important to the community and we’ll be speaking with locals and park visitors about the project through an engagement process.”

“We’re working with experts to understand the best outcomes for decommissioning the reservoir. From environmental to cultural heritage to geotechnical assessments – these detailed investigations will help us to plan for the future of Upper Teddington.”

Teddington Reservoir is in the Kara Kara National Park. Credit: Parks Victoria