Editing Snowy Mountains Scheme (section)

===Background===
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers were subject to development and control, to meet [[water supply]] and irrigation needs. By contrast, the Snowy River, that rose in the [[Australian Alps]] and flowed through mountainous and practically uninhabited country until [[debouch]]ing onto the river flats of East Gippsland, had never been controlled in any way, neither for the production of power nor for irrigation.  A great proportion of its waters flowed eastwards into the South Pacific Ocean (the Tasman Sea). The Snowy River had the highest [[River source|headwater source]] of any in Australia and drew away a large proportion of the waters from the south-eastern New South Wales snowfields.  It was foreseen that construction works in the Snowy Mountains could supplement the flow of the great inland rivers, provide a means for developing hydro-electric power, and increase agricultural production in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys.<ref name=ABS />

Following [[World War II]], the [[Government of New South Wales]] proposed that the flow of the Snowy River be diverted into the Murrumbidgee River for irrigation and agricultural purposes. There was little emphasis placed on the generation of power. A counter proposal by the [[Government of Victoria]] involved a greater generation of power, and involved diversion of the Snowy River to the Murray River.<ref name=ABS /> Additionally, the [[Government of South Australia]] was concerned that downstream flows on the Murray River would be severely jeopardised.<ref name=Bergmann>{{cite book|title=The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme: How did it Manage Without an EIA?|first=Michael|last=Bergmann|date=February 1999|isbn=0-7315-3403-4|publisher=[[Australian National University]]}}</ref>

The [[Commonwealth of Australia|Commonwealth Government]], looking at the national implications of the two proposals, initiated a meeting to discuss the use of the waters of the Snowy River, and a Committee was set up in 1946 to examine the question on the broadest possible basis. This Committee, in a report submitted in November 1948, suggested consideration of a far greater scheme than any previously put forward. It involved not only the simple question of use of the waters of the Snowy River, but consideration of the possible diversion of a number of rivers in the area, tributaries, not only of the Snowy, but of the Murray and Murrumbidgee. The recommendations of the Committee were generally agreed to by a conference of Ministers representing the Commonwealth, New South Wales, and Victoria, and it was also agreed that the Committee should continue its investigations.<ref name=ABS />

However, limitations in the [[Constitution of Australia|Australian Constitution]] meant that the Commonwealth Government was limited in the powers it could exercise, without the agreement of the [[States and territories of Australia|States]].<ref name=Bergmann /> Subsequently, the Commonwealth Government introduced legislation into the [[Parliament of Australia|Federal Parliament]] under its defence power;<ref name=Bergmann /> and enacted the {{Cite Legislation AU |Cth|act|smhpa1949251949460|Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Act 1949}} that enabled the formation of the [[Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority]].<ref name=ABS /> Ten years later, the relevant States and Territories introduced their own corresponding legislation and in January 1959 the Snowy Mountains Agreement was reached between the Commonwealth and the States.<ref name=Bergmann />

The legislation created the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority that was given responsibility for the final evaluation, design and construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.  The final agreed plan was to divert the waters of the Snowy Mountains region to provide increased electricity generating capacity and to provide irrigation water for the dry west. It was "greeted with enthusiasm by the people of Australia" and was seen to be "a milestone towards full national development".{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}

The chief engineer, [[New Zealand]]-born [[William Hudson (engineer)|William Hudson]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/hudson.html|work=The New Zealand Edge: Heroes: Builders|title=William Hudson|publisher=IP Holdings Limited|editor=Sweeney, Brian|year=2011|access-date=5 May 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016102259/http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/hudson.html|archive-date=16 October 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> (knighted 1955), was chosen to head the scheme as Chairman of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Authority, and was instructed to seek workers from overseas. Hudson's employment of workers from 32 (mostly European) countries, many of whom had been at war with each other only a few years earlier,<ref>{{Cite Australian Dictionary of Biography|last=Sparke|first=Eric|id2=hudson-sir-william-10563|title=Sir William Hudson (1896–1978)|year=1996|volume=14|access-date=20 October 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415074416/http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A140579b.htm |archive-date=15 April 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> had a significant effect on the cultural mix of Australia.