STEAM POWER STATION

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 11

STEAM POWER STATION

PREPARATIONS NEAR MERCER IMMEDIATE START ON CONSTRUCTION (New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, August 10. The construction of a steam power station at Meremere, near Mercer, will begin without delay. Thoqgh the final arrangements about excavation of the site are being determined, the Ministry of Works is gathering its plant resources for a start on the station. A representative of Sir Alexander Gibb and Company, consulting engineers, of London, will arrive in the Waikato district tomorrow morning. He will be accompanied by two associates. They will inspect the site in company with the District Commissioner of Works (Mr C. J. W. Parsons) and the resident engineer. The Engineer-in-Chief<'’of the Ministry of Works (Mr C. W. O. Turner) will arrive on Friday to join the party, which will have full discussions on the site about excavations for the power station, the siting of the permanent township, and the construction of the village. Land for both the station and the permanent village is being bought. Mr Parsons said it had been decided to employ the whole oT the Works Ministry organisation at present engaged on the construction of the Paengaroa-Te Ngae highway on the power station project, and this would be transferred as a special task force. The equipment would be serviced in the Ministry’s workshops at Rotowaro. said Mr Parsons. It was not expected that the men would be required for longer than two months. After that they would be rediverted to the highway job, which was well up to schedule.

Sites for 150 permanent houses have been tentatively chosen, and provision is being made for the acquisition of huts for 600 single men.