Contract Let For Power Plant Tunnel On Waikato

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 7

Contract Let For Power Plant Tunnel On Waikato

(New Zealand Press Association)

■.. ELLINGTON, June 7. n significant step in the development of the North Island's power reSurces has been taken with the letof a contract for the Ohakuri aversion tunnel on the Waikato river," Sid the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. roosman) today. “The work will be £one by the Fletcher Construction rompany. Ltd. •■ln the Ohakuri project,” said Mr foosman. “the Government is taking pother step towards the full development of the Waikato for the producton of electricity. Five miles above Jtiamuri. the s.te is in a steep gorge, jje west bank being clad in pine forest, whi’e the east bank is typical cCTUb-covered pumice land now being jirvelcned into farms. “With wide dam sites, as at Whakamaru and At’amuri. it was possible to divert the river by an open cut. At Cbakuri. as at Maraetai. the dam site ir too narrow, and it is necessary to build a tunnel which will take the full few of the river while the dam is tore built. “The tunnel will be 1300 feet Ion" ord will be lined with concrete.” ivir Goosman said. “A shaft will be built aid a gate installed to shut off the flow in the tunnel after the dam is built “The Works Ministry organisation at Mangakino will supervise the construction of the tunnel.” the Minister said. “The Ministry will also construct most of the balance of the project. Its forces are now fully engaged on Atiamuri and Waipapa. and it has been necessary' to let this section of the work on contract to keep un to the programme of developing the full power resources of the river. “The letting of the Ohaku’-i tunnel contract means that three major hydro-electric projects are now being

w® e< ! ahead simultaneously on the AvailsX riVer ' Mr Goosman said. “All fdnlt res °urces of manpower and machinery are being used in the effort station UP Wlth the schedule of con-

Atiamuri - where the first maar? exP ect ?d to come into operation in the winter of 1959, work go A ng - ahead on the dam foundation and on the diversion channel. i IS - Sl ™ llar to the Whakamaru channel in that it wiU become the spil.way, said the Minister. “The °, pe ? ng the Waipapa site is well up to schedule, and excavation of the dl X^F slon channel has begun. rn/i clearing has-been carried out al Ohaxuri. and the letting of this diversion tunnel contract is a big forward ste ?- Power ls exrectea from Ohakuri a nd Waipapa by the win + er of 1961. These three new projects will add E£W? telv 200PCO kilowatts to the 50000 kilowatts already being generated in the North Island. The latter figure includes Whakamaru and the ex?s mg fuel stations at King’s Wharf and Evans Bay.

“Concurrently with the building of these three big hydro installations, the Government is going ahead with the construction of a steam station to genelectricity at Mercer, and with the geothermal steam project at Wairakei,” Mr Goosman said. “The Mercer contract is under way, and tenders have been called for a site contract at Wairakei. The first power from Mercer is expected in the winter of 1958. and from Wairakei about three months earlier.”

The price ouoted by the successful tenderer for the Ohakuri tunnel has not been released. The Ohakuri hvdro-elect-ie station will have a capacity of 84.000 kilowatts.