Hydro Tasmania is proud to support the National Canoe Slalom Championships coming up at Bradys Lake this week. 

This event will attract more than 100 of the country’s top athletes including Australian Olympian Daniel Watkins, who has been paddling with the Derwent Valley Canoe Club since 2007. 

It will be a national selection race with competitors vying for a chance to represent their country.

To support this event, Hydro Tasmania will be releasing 18 cumecs of water, or 18 tonnes per second, through the course for the duration of the competition.

Acting CEO, Ian Brooksbank, said Hydro Tasmania took great pride in supporting events like this which enrich the lives of Tasmanians and generate excitement and interest in the community.

“While providing clean secure energy is Hydro Tasmania’s first priority, we have always supported recreational users such as paddlers, rafters, rowers or anglers who want to make use of the water we manage.

Ian explained that often the work associated with a water release could be done remotely from the Hydro Tasmania control desk in Hobart, but the course at Bradys is slightly different because it involves an extra level of coordination with staff on site.

“Bradys has canal gates that can’t be opened remotely. Our Generation Controller in Hobart works with field staff who open and close Woodward’s Gate at the top of the course for each release. A lot of planning goes into each release.

“This is the country’s top natural channel slalom course and one of the few in the world where a water authority works this closely with a community canoeing club,” Ian said.

Bradys Slalom Course is managed by the Derwent Canoe Club in conjunction with Hydro Tasmania. It runs between two bodies of water, Bronte Lagoon and Bradys Lake, which are part of the chain of lakes created to supply Tungatinah Power Station in the Central Highlands.

Established in 1970, Bradys is an internationally recognised white-water site and an integral part of Australia’s slalom landscape. It is used as a training course for national teams and has hosted several national and international competitions. The course was recently chosen by the International Canoe Federation as one of the Top 100 places to paddle in the world.

The 2022 Canoe Slalom Championships take place from 22-24 April at Bradys Lake. 

Ends.

Released for Hydro Tasmania by Lyn Southon / 0409 722 359 / media@hydro.com.au