Clyde dam

Press, 19 May 1982, Page 14

Clyde dam

Sir,—lt is interesting to note that the High Court of New Zealand has referred the decision on the water rights of the Clutha back to the Planning Tribunal because they did not consider the end use of the power when initially granting the water rights. Mr Birch keeps saying that the Clyde High Dam must go ahead in the interest of the National Grid. However, this statement seems silly when everyone knows it is impossible for the Cook Strait Cable to carry any more power to the North Island. One wonders what would have happened if the Aramoana smelter had proceeded and used this energy that is now deemed so “necessary.” Couple this with the Government rushing round like fleas in a fit hinting at using the National Development Act or just changing the law regardless of the Planning Tribunal decision and one wonders what is afoot—Yours, etc., JOY RITCHIE. May 15, 1982.

Sir,—The power planners should be sacked. Nine months ago the middle of three forecasts in the 1981 Energy Plan expected it would take well over two years for growth of electricity demand in the South Island to equal output from the Clyde dam. Hence Mr Muldoon’s “threat” about water spilling to waste. Now Mr Birch informs us that the 1982 Energy Plan will show Clyde electricity to be needed immediately in 1987, smelter or no smelter. This is rubbish, and were it not so the monumental irresponsibility of the smelter plan would be even more obvious. Pechiney will want over 3150 gWh of electricity a year, whereas the only other potential large user (Ferro-Silicon) requires a mere 500 gWh. Output of Clyde is 1930 gWh. Since this Government is politically comitted to building power stations as a gigantic job creation scheme, irrespective of any need for them, the low dam at Clyde would produce almost the same amount of unwanted electricity without the extensive flooding of valuable orchards and farmland.— Yours, etc., ERIC BENNETT. May 16, 1982.