Lake Claims Rejected

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32209, 30 January 1970, Page 24

Lake Claims Rejected

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, Jan. 29. The defence by the general manager of the Electricity Department (Mr E. B. MacKenzie) of the proposed raising of the level of Lake Manapouri has been criticised by the newlyformed Otago branch of the Save Manapouri Committee.

The committee, this morning rejected several of Mr MacKenzie’s claims. “Mr MacKenzie says that Doubtful Sound will become a counter tourist attraction, so eliminating the effect of the temporary loss of the scenic Manapouri shoreline. He also states that the road into the sound is being built without money from the taxpayer,” the committee said. “In reply, the committee says that the over-all cost of the scheme does come from the taxpayer and that the roads are included in the total cost. Also, it rejects any claims that the damage to Manapouri will be temporary.

“Our committee firmly upholds the opinion of the Nature Conservation' Council that raising the lake level will cause permanent despoliation of many miles of lake shoreline,” it read. “Our committee claims that the road construction was an integral part of the scheme, the total cost of which was borne by the taxpayer. “Moreover, estimated total costs of the scheme skyrocketed from $59.8 million in 1962 to $112.8 million in 1967, and the final cost is likely to exceed $l7O million. “With the cost of electricity being related to the development cost, it is obvious that power from the scheme will be much more expensive than earlier estimates indicated. “Mr MacKenzie said the disturbance to the shoreline would be more than compensated for by the opening up of Doubtful Sound to general tourist traffic. “Our committee can see no valid reason why any tourist

asset, developed as part of the hydro-electric scheme, should compensate for the unnecess ry desecration of probably the most valuable scenic and tourist attraction in New Zealand.

“Surely Mr MacKenzie is aware that a tourist bus service has been operating between West Arm and Doubtful Sound for at least two years, and can continue to operate, irrespective of raising the lake level,” the committee said.

“In reply to claims from Mr MacKenzie that the longterm economic operation of the Comalco smelter requires full development of the hydro-electric scheme —that

is, a raised lake level—the committee says this is not the case.

“We have been told that Comalco will require 100 MW in 1971, rising to 300 MW in 1973 and eventually increasing to 480 MW. “It is possible to fulfil all of these requirements without interfering with the level of Lake Manapouri,” the committee said. “Raising the lake level by 27.5 feet merely increases the power output by 8 per cent, from 630 MW to 680 MW. A substantial amount of the electricity produced will be fed into the national grid, even if the lake is not raised,” the report concluded.