Lake Rise Deplored By Society

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31131, 6 August 1966, Page 20

Lake Rise Deplored By Society

A resolution that the New Zealand Scenery Preservation Society deplores the proposal of the Government to raise the level of Lake Manapouri, spoiling the shoreline scenery for the sake of the last watt of power, was passed at the annual meeting of the society.

It was decided to send a copy of the resolution to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), to each member of Parliament and to the Nature Conservation Council.

In putting the motion, Mr H. G. Royds said that the statement made by the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) on July 26 was full of mistakes and he did not think the Government realised what was going to happen if the lake was raised 27ft and seasonally lowered 27ft The Spey and Garnock riv ers were very flat and would be flooded up to two miles along their lengths, said Mr Royds. The Garnock river would have a one and a halfmile width alternately flooded and left dry and would remain a mud flat.

The cost of clearing timber from around Lake Manapouri had been estimated at £2s million. It was now estimated to cost less than £600,000, said Mr Royds, but he believed it could be twice that amount Mr A. Lush said the Government had to be attacked on the financial side. A continuous supply of power which never varied according to the weather was the most expensive type of power and it was what Comalco wanted. Comalco should pay the highest

price but the Government was i willing to let it have it for i the lowest cost : He could not see any justification for helping the Gov- 1

ernment to do what amounted to subsidising Comalco, said Mr Lush. He said he was convinced that there was a strong case

for the repeal of the Mana-pouri-Te Anau Development Act. The Government was not going to make any profit out of Manapouri but there would be a steadily increasing loss. The following officers were elected:— Chairman, Mr A. J. Scott; vice-chairmen, Messrs H. G. Royds, I. G. B. Wilson, Professor H. R. Gray; secretary. Mr I. G. Clark; treasurer, Mr D. N. Woodham; committee, Mesdames G. Hennessy, W S. Mac Gibbon, Dr. K. P. G Mears, Dr. C. G. Riley, Dr. I H. W. Squires, Messrs W. S Baverstock, W. Croll, H. C Gray, T. C. Hay, A. Lush, B Alexander.