Federal government announces major upgrade to Snowy Hydro Scheme

The federal government has announced it will spend billions of dollars on a major upgrade to the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, as part of its ongoing bid to stave off a national electricity shortage. Additional tunnels and power stations will increase the scheme's output by 50 per cent, and provide energy to half a million more homes. But the announcement has provoked a further widening of the rift between the Commonwealth and the South Australian government - with both sides attacking each other over their handling of the energy crisis.

Internal view of the Tumut 3 power station at the Snowy Hydro Scheme in Talbingo Source: AAP