Runholders Want To See Minister

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 17

Runholders Want To See Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, January 28.

The Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) will be asked to meet a deputation of Mackenzie Country runholders over the possible raising of the level of Lake Pukaki for hydro-electric purposes.

The request will be made bj the runholders’ member and Minister of Lands (Mr Gerard). If possible the meeting will be arranged to take place in the Mackenzie Country as soon as possible after the end of March.

The runholders are concerned at the likelihood of the lake being raised between 70ft and 180 ft—Mr Gerard said the maximum would be 120 ft—to provide storage for the New Zealand Electricity Department's Mary burn canal scheme, which envisages the construction of up to seven power stations. Lawyer Puts Case Their case was put to Mr Gerard at a meeting at “airlie by a Timaru Lawyer engaged by the Upper Mackenzie branch of Federated Farmers. He told Mr Gerard the runholders were unanimous that their views should be p'aced before the Minister cf Electricity before the Government decided the future of the lake. He said the original proposal for the scheme as announced by Mr Shand on

June 3. 1965. involved the construction of a 45-mile canal linking Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki, Ohau, and Bemnore, with the raising of the level of Lake Ohau. and no alteration to that of Lake Pukaki. Ohau Representations “Apparently, strong representations were made on behalf of Lake Ohau landowners, and since then what information Lake Pukaki runholders have been able to find out has led them to understand that the Government may not carry out its original intention to raise Lake Ohau, but could raise Lake Pukaki to a level that is not known, but could vary from 70ft to 180 ft or thereabouts,” counsel said. The land that would be affected would be that which was needed for the economic running of properties, he said. Its loss could finish any further development of highcountry sheep farming in the Mackenzie basin. “It should be the fixed policy of the Government not to bury for ever good-quality ! sheep, cattle, and feedproducing land to provide cusecs for power,” counsel I said.