HYDRO SCHEME AT ROXBURGH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27463, 24 September 1954, Page 12

HYDRO SCHEME AT ROXBURGH

Bonus For Early Completion

POWER PROSPECTS REVIEWED

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 23. For every day by which the contractors on the Roxburgh hydroelectric scheme beat the contracted completion date—February 1, 1957—the Government will pay them a bonus of £lOOO. t Announcing this today at the annual conference of the Electrical Power Supply Authorities’ Association, the Minister in charge of the State Hydro-electric Department (Mr W. 8. Goosman) said that, conversely, there was provision for penalty payments by the contractors if they went beyond the contracted date. The Minister said he expected Roxburgh to be completed “about the end of 1956.” Completion of this scheme, and completion also of the Cobb extension and of the proposed scheme at Braehum, near Murchison, would mean that the South Island’s power needs would be looked after till 1967.

About 1960, the huge Benmore project would be started, and it was hoped this would be in operation by 1966-67, said Mr Goosman. He understood that the generating machinery was ready to go into operation in the Cobb extension scheme, though the dam was not yet finished. With reasonable weather, it would be finished early next year.

The Minister said he thought there should not be too much difficulty in the supply of power to the South Island in the years intervening before the completion of Roxburgh. The exten-

sion to the Cobb scheme would satisfy the requirements of Nelson-Marl-borough for a few years, and with the proposed Braeburn project, the area’s needs would be met for many years.

He estimated that the Roxburgh, Cobb and Braeburn schemes would meet the needs of the South Island till 1967 “unless, of course, some big heavy industry scheme goes ahead down there for which it is necessary to provide more power." As much heavy industry as possible should be in the South Island, said Mr Goosman. This could not be directed, but it should be induced. It was better to use power near the point of generation because the cost of transmission was high. Steps had been taken to overcome difficulties at Roxburgh, he said. It could fairly be said that good progress was being made, and those who had seen the scheme lately had been impressed. The work was at a stage, where progress was now visible, but this had been made possible only by careful work in the past. Other Power Schemes

The Waitaki extension of 30,000 kilowatts had recently been completed, said Mr Goosman. Unfortunately, water supply had been unfavourable

in the winter months and a 10 per cent, cut had had to be imposed from July 12. This was entirely the result of low inflows and freeze-up, but a thaw could not be far away. The Tekapo dam had been completed, and a start made with the control works at Lake Hawea, Mr Goosman said. This latter work was neces-

sary for the full development of Roxburgh. Until Roxburgh power was available, the department would have to make do with what it had, plus the new Waipori plants, one of which was recently put into operation. In addition to new power stations, work on a new transmission system in the South Island was well under way, and parts of the system were already carrying power, the Minister said. The new sub-station at Islington was in partial operation.

The Minister said he welcomed the recent connexion with the main South Island system of the Buller Power Board’s district. This had proved to be the toughest job of its kind in the experience of the department, but it was now done, and work was proceeding with an interconnecting line to Nelson-Marlborough. This line was expected to be completed by the end of 1955.

Mr A. H. H. Pearce (Waitaki Electric Power Board) asked the Minister to make clear his statement that Roxburgh would take care of the South Island power needs till 1967. He said that last year the Minister had said the scheme would see the South Island through to 1962. Mr Goosman replied that the initial development of Roxburgh would take care of the situation till 1962. Full development would extend the period till 1967.

Replying to Mr A. H. Nees (Marlborough), Mr Goosman said workers would be shifted this year as they finished at the Cobb river scheme to the Braeburn project. Tenders would be called early next year for work on the Braeburn scheme.