Waitaki Scheme ‘Years Away’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30847, 4 September 1965, Page 1

Waitaki Scheme ‘Years Away’

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. An assurance that it would be many years before the Lower Waitaki river scheme was proceeded with was given by the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) in Parliament today during discussion on Electricity Department estimates.

Mr A. D. Dick (Govt., Waitaki) asked whether a decision had been made on the proposal to raise the level of Lake Ohau, as many people were against this. What had happened to the suggestion about raising Lake Pukaki? he asked. This was agreed on, and then abandoned. The people in the area were entitled to know what would happen. What had happened to the proposal to connect Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki by canal? The particulars of the route were not known. What were the chances of an irrigation project being linked with these hydro-electric plans? Mr Shand said the answer about Lake Ohau would not be known for 12 months. “As always with hydro-electric

projects, someone will be opposed to it,” he said. It was difficult to say exactly what would happen during 10 or 12 years.

He thought the Lower Waitaki scheme would not be implemented for many years—possibly 20 years. When it was done, it would probably include irrigation. Of the Upper Waitaki, he said that a suitable arrangement would be worked out for the provision of stock water. He had doubts about irrigation, for the cost might be very high. However, he said that was many years ahead.