Lowering of Clutha dam being studied

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33583, 11 July 1974, Page 9

Lowering of Clutha dam being studied

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN.

Preliminary inquiries were being made by the Clutha Valley Development Commission into the possibility of lowering the proposed DG7 dam in the Cromwell Gorge as much as 40 feet, said the chairman (Mr R. J. Calvert).

Reducing the dam's height 40 feet would mean that the commercial area of Cromwell, a mile upriver, might not be flooded, but it would not save all the Lowburn flats, Mr Calvert said. He had asked the Electricity Department, and the Ministry of Works and Development, about lowering the dam, and also requested information on the increase in the unit cost of electricity

and the possible effects on the peak-load principle. Because of the low-lying nature of the Lowburn area, where the dam proposals had evoked a great deal of criticism, the DG7 dam would have to be lowered much more than 40 feet to save the area from flooding. Mr Calvert emphasised that the inquiries were only preliminary, and that noi answers had been received: yet.