Tailrace Workers May Live In Ship

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 14

Tailrace Workers May Live In Ship

A floating town may accommodate those working on the £9,387,787 Lake Manapouri tail-race tunnel. The three contracting firms —the Utah Construction and Mining Company, the Williamson Construction Company of Christchurch, and Burnetts Motors, Ltd., of Ashburton—are considering buying a ship to house the 400 workers on the job.

A brokering firm has offered three ships, one of which is the Wanganella. saud Mr R. A Burnett, managingdirector of Burnetts Motors. Ltd., tonight. No offer has been made for any ship and none will be made until the principals of the contractors have made an inspection of the ships offering. Even then, permission to change the terms of the contract will have to be secured.

Equipment and vehicles which will be used to drill and excavate the sj-mile tunnel will be electric powered, said Mr Burnett. An electric railway will be built into the tunnel as it is bored to take out rubble and provide transport for machinery and men working in the tunnel. Enough power to supply a small town will be needed for the work and camp which will be established in Deep Cove. A diesel generator may be used to supply this power.

The ship would be substituted for camp accommodation laid down in the contract. Its advantages wodld be full sewerage, water, refrigeration, kitchen and bed accommodation, and hospital facilities.

Electric power was chosen because providing air for the tunnel, which will be below sea level, will be a problem.

It would also be disposable when the job was completed by the beginning of January, 1968. If approval was given the ship would be moored in Deep Cove. Doubtful Sound, only a few hundred yards from the access site. An amphibian aeroplane will also be based in Deep Cove to provide emergency travel to hospital.