Council Concern At Tongariro Scheme

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 3

Council Concern At Tongariro Scheme

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, July 21. The Hamilton City Council is concerned that the diversion of other rivers into the Waikato will create national problems far more serious than the one it is designed to cure.

The council has asked the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) for an opportunity to discuss the national issues involved in the proposed scheme before any final decision to proceed is made. In a statement the council says it shares the concern of the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) at the rapid rise in demand for power. But it wants the Government to give serious consideration to alternative sources which, while dealing with the power problem, will, at the same time, be safer and more reliable. These alternatives include atomic power, a second coalburning station in the Huntly area, duplication of the Cook

Strait cable, and further development of smaller hydroelectric stations close to the points of consumption. The major points of concern about the proposed Tongariro scheme are the adverse effect on the level of the Waikato river and on the Waikato Valley Authority’s flood protection works and plans, on the borough of Taumatunui and amenities of the Wanganui river itself, and on the priceless fly fishing grounds of the Tongariro river and National Park. The council is also concerned about the wisdom of constructing what appears to be a most complicated and expensive scheme in comparatively or potentially unstable country. It will ask for urgency to be given to the greater use of other forms of fuel for space heating and water heating, which produce peak loads and place an ever-increasing burden on supply authorities.