Destruction of the Cromwell Junction

Cromwell Junction before the Clyde dam


Cromwell Junction 1989


Cromwell Junction 1993


Cromwell Junction after the Clyde dam

The confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers at the entrance of the Cromwell Gorge has always been at the heart of Cromwell's identity. In fact, the settlement was originally called 'The Junction.' Even when the name 'Cromwell' was adopted in 1866, the town was often referred to as the 'Cromwell Junction' or sometimes 'the meeting of the waters.' Here, the clear turquoise waters of the Upper Clutha, mixed reluctantly with the silt-laden waters of the Kawarau.

This remarkable sight, viewed from high above, was often painted and photographed, and appeared on a New Zealand stamp. The once famous Cromwell Junction was perhaps the most spectacular river confluence in the world.

Perched high above the ‘Junction’ on a rock promontory, the historic gold-rush town of Cromwell boasted one of the most picturesques locations imaginable. Cromwell's historic main street was mostly intact with numerous gold-rush era buildings, and at the end of the street, the massive 1866 bridge crossed high above the famous Cromwell 'Gap' Rapid. A Chinese gold-mining settlement was virtually untouched on the encarpement of the Kawarau 'arm,' and further up the Kawarau was the most highly rated whitewater rapid in the world - Sargood's. Cromwell was poised to become a tourism icon, a historic town unlike any other, and a watersports Mecca.

However, 'think big' obliterated the 'Junction.' The dam builders were ruthless, not only flooding, but systematically destroying the 'Junction' as if to physically remove it from the hearts of those who loved it. When the Clyde dam is eventually decommissioned (it has a design life of about 80 years), the waters will gradually be lowered in stages and the 'Junction' will be revealed, but it will never be quite the same after restoration, which will be a long and difficult process. Large dam decommissioning and river restoration projects take about 10-15 years to complete. Worldwide, although only a few large dams have been decommissioned to date, such projects will become more common as an increasing number of ageing dams face removal. Typically, no provision is made for the cost of 'undoing the damage.'  Decommissioning costs for large dams range from 35-150% in proportion to the cost of a new dam. The obvious question is, who will pay?