Department’s Views On S.I. Thermal Power

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 20

Department’s Views On S.I. Thermal Power

A thermal power station on Banks Peninsula will be many years away if New Zealand’s remaining hydro-elec-tric power resources are developed to the maximum practicable extent, says the general manager of the New Zealand Electricity Department (Mr E. B. Mackenzie). But if the country does not want large hydro-electric development (such as Lake Manapouri) and still wants its electricity demands to be met, the active planning of such a station may begin within 10 years.

Mr Mackenzie says this in commenting on the following letter to the editor of “The Press” from John Pollard: “The announcement that the New Zealand Electricity Department is to build a sub-station at Lansdowne Valley also makes public the intention to build a thermal power station on or near Banks Peninsula. Such a power station will be of very large capacity, discharging huge quantities of hot water to the sea. With correct planning there could be minimum disturbance to the Peninsula scenery and to the marine ecology at the station site. However, what the engineers consider best for the N.Z.E.D. may not be the best

for Banks Peninsula. Too often in the past the planners have presented us with a fait accompli. In the interests of conservation may we have full public information and discussion of the power station and transmission line proposals long before finality is reached.” Resources In North The ever-increasing demand for electricity started a trend towards thermal generation in New Zealand, Mr Mackenzie says. This is already evident in the North Island, where the end of hydro-elec-tric resources is in sight, and will come in due course to the South Island.

“However, on present planning, assuming the country’s remaining economic hydro resources to be developed to the maximum practicable extent, the stations to which Mr Pollard refers, on or near Banks Peninsula, are still many years away. Mention of them at this very early stage is part of the process of ensuring that the public are kept informed and not presented with any sort of Tait accompli.’ “On the other hand, if the country does not desire largescale hydro-electric development but still wishes its electricity demands to be met the active planning of a large thermal station somewhere near Christchurch could be happening within 10 years,” he says.* “The search for future thermal station sites is referred to in the department’s latest annual report, listing several possible sites in the North Island regarding which preliminary notice has been given to the local authorities. In the report some of the ’ factors affecting the choice of . thermal station sites are named, including those of ’ aesthetics and the avoidance ■ of pollution of the atmosphere ’ or of natural waters. i I “Close Liaison”

“Close liaison is maintained with the chief chemical inspector of the Health Department and with the Meteorological Office, regarding air pollution. Logging of water temperatures has begun at two potential sites to decide whether the water available can provide a suitable supply for a power station cooling system without detriment to plant and animal life. “It will be seen, therefore, that the local authorities receive early advice of proposals and that the conservation aspects are certainly not overlooked. Your readers can be assured that the preliminary steps which are being taken in the North Island at present, as described above, will be repeated at the appropriate time in the South,” Mr Mackenzie says.