In 1995 a report by engineering consultants, GHD Group, stated that the lack of a reliable water supply for irrigation in the Meander Catchment is seen as a key factor limiting potential future expansion of agricultural enterprises.

Despite being passed by two other statutory committees of the Tasmanian Parliament, the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal knocked it back on economic and environmental grounds.

The Tribunal vetoed the construction of the dam because it could not determine its economic value - as estimates ranged from a loss of A$600,000 to nearly A$40 million - and because it would affect two threatened species the epacris plant and the spotted tail quoll.

[5] In 2008, Irrigation Tasmania installed a 215m long floating safety barrier, to protect recreational users from the hazards of the overflow spillway.

The Lake Huntsman Power Station has one unique double Francis-type turbine, with a generating capacity of 1.95 megawatts (2,610 hp) of electricity.