Decision On Clutha Dams In Five Years

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31680, 16 May 1968, Page 14

Decision On Clutha Dams In Five Years

(New Zealantf Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 15. To give an assurance that high-level dam investigations on the Clutha River would not go ahead would be irresponsible, and unfair to future governments and the people of the area, the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) said at a meeting of Central Otago representatives in Cromwell today.

Mr Shand said he could not commit future governments to a plan of action without first investigating all possibilities.

He had been asked by the Mayor of Cromwell (Mr L G. Anderson) to give an assurance that investigations into high-level dams for the river would be stopped immediately, and that all future investi-

gations would be limited to low-level dams incorporating irrigation schemes.

Mr Shand said that in 1965 the Electricity Department had told a Cromwell deputation the low-level dams scheme was considered the one most likely to go ahead However, all alternatives had to be investigated. The difference in cost between the high-level and lowlevel dams could be up to SlOO million to produce the same amount of electricity.

But, Mr Shand said, his department felt the low-level scheme could still be worth while, taking into account the excessive disruption caused by the alternative proposals. It would be at least five years before the Government was in a position to make a decision.