Local Community Tours Kerosene Vale Ash Dam Works

Lidsdale NSW, November 2025

Community members and council representatives recently joined Generator Property Management (GPM) for guided tours of the Kerosene Vale Ash Dam site, gaining a firsthand look at the progress being made to safely manage and rehabilitate the area.

Separate visits were hosted for Lithgow City Council and members of the GPM Community Consultation Group. Guests were shown around the site and received a clear overview of both long‑term projects and recent improvements.

GPM General Manager David Wood said the team was pleased to welcome visitors and share the work underway. “Our tours and presentations offer the community and council a clear perspective on the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety, stability, and environmental management of the KVAR site,” he said.

Key Works Highlighted

During the tours, participants learned about:

  • Diverting water from the Sawyers Swamp Creek Ash Dam to prevent run‑off into the main dam
  • Installing sprinkler systems to reduce dust and erosion
  • Clean water diversion works on the northern escarpment
  • Studies to safely drain the main dam, fill the void with 400,000–500,000 cubic metres of material, and cap the dam
  • Construction of diversion dams in surrounding catchments to better manage rainfall
  • Early benefits already visible, including reduced water levels and improved creek flows that enhance flood management
  • Plans to redesign the spillway once the dam is capped to manage surface flows effectively

Visitors were also updated on GPM’s positive engagement with Dam Safety NSW, with the site recognised as part of the state’s high‑risk dam evaluation program. Mr Wood explained that GPM has stockpiled around 120,000 tonnes of material to begin the first and second stages of long‑term stability works on the southern side of the KVAR.

Strong Collaboration

The tours also highlighted the partnerships taking place across the site. Throughout the year, GPM has welcomed a range of stakeholders, including the State Emergency Service (SES), who joined a dam safety practical exercise in February, and Lithgow Council, who participated in onsite community engagement meetings. These collaborations continue to strengthen GPM’s shared commitment to safety, transparency and positive outcomes for the community.