AVIEMORE TUNNEL

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 19

AVIEMORE TUNNEL

Contract For W93

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 31

A contract for £882,293 for a 1600 ft diversion tunnel for the Aviemore hydro-electric project has been let to Downer and Company, Ltd., in conjunction with Morrison Knudsen, Ltd., the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) announced today. “The Aviemore project on the Waitaki river, about four miles upstream from Waitaki dam and about nine miles downstream from Otematata, construction town for the Benmore project, has been designed to fill the gap between the two,” said Mr Goosman. “Its dam will impound the water discharged from Benmore in a lake of 11 square miles, which will supply Aviemore’s four 55,000 kilowatt generators. “The tunnel, 41ft high and 29ft across, will involve some 140,000 cubic yards of excavation, mainly through solid rock and about 28,000 cubic yards of concrete will be needed in its lining. When the dam has been completed the tunnel will be sealed with a concrete plug,” said Mr Goosman.

Completion date for the contract had been set at 18 months from the date of acceptance of the tender, said the Minitser.

Vast areas of previouslyinaccessible barren land in Australia are being transformed into profitable grazing areas by Australia’s new rural labourer—the aeroplane —Reuter.