Subsidy sought for Cass hydro scheme

Press, 22 November 1978, Page 2

Subsidy sought for Cass hydro scheme

| The Central Canterbury Electric-Power Board will “apply for a Government subsidy to begin the design of the first of a number of .[hydro-electric units it plans [for the Upper Waimakariri '(River basin. Potential consumers will | soon be asked to a special [meeting and the board will I seek water rights, a power | licence, and environmental land zoning consents. The first unit, to be built | near Cass, will have a genI erating capacity of 150 kW land will cost about $320,000. [lt will serve about seven (consumers and should be working in three years, says the board’s general manager (Mr S. E. Slatter). The board is conducting tests in the Cass, Porter, Broken, and Thomas Rivers, land Ghost Stream, to detetmine generating capacities of further stations in the I area. | Consumers would probably 7 be asked to pay several t hundred dollars a year at the outset, but' when the [ area was generating about 5000 kW that amount, would |be rebated, said Mr Slatter. i The subsidy application [will be made within six [months, to the Rural Reticulation Council.