No change meantime in level of Manapouri

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32719, 23 September 1971, Page 3

No change meantime in level of Manapouri

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 22.

The Government’s decision to implement the recommendations of (the Petitions Committee on Lake Manapouri, and to keep the lake at its [present level in the meantime, was greeted by the Labour Party today as a battle won, while the final outcome of the war remained undecided.

The decision, announced in a statement by the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake), means that the Manaroa dam, when constructed, will ensure that the lake remains at its natural level.

But it will allow, if necessary, in the future, the raising of the lake beyond its natural levels. This can be done only with the authority of Parliament.

Sir Keith Holyoake said that after the dam had been constructed, the amount of power that could be generated without raising the level could be determined, and the Government could then decide whether or not to raise the lake. The Labour Party spokesman on the environment, Mr J. A. Walding (Palmerston North), said in a statement that the decision endorsed the Labour Party’s policy

that there was no justification for destroying one of New Zealand’s most priceless assets, a policy which had been consistently and vehemently opposed by the National Government. He said the building of a dam capable of allowing the lake to be raised at a later date led him to believe the Government had had a

change of tactics, rather than of heart. “The real danger is that this decision will lead conservationists into a false sense of security,” Mr Walding said. In a separate Government statement today the Minister of Electricity (Mr Allen) announced plans for the Te Anau control structure for the Manapouri scheme. This is to be built near the lake outlet, and not at the previously recommended site three miles down the Upper Waiau River. The change will raise the cost about half a million dollars, to $12,515,000, and will virtually eliminate any possibility of generating electricity at some-further point bv installing turbines.

Mr Allen said that in the light of public concern about the siting of the structure, and the Manapouri scheme in general, he considered the additional cost and the loss of the opportunity to generate electricity to be justified. The additional cost of the work would be reflected in an increase in the price of power to Comalco, Mr Allen said. The National Parks Authority welcomed the Government’s decision. The chairman (Mr R. J. Maclachlan) said the authority was relieved that the immediate proposal to raise the lake by 27 feet had been deferred.