No moratorium on geothermal drilling

Press, 19 October 1982, Page 38

No moratorium on geothermal drilling

PA ■ . Hamilton The Rotorua District Council will not enforce a moratorium on geothermal drilling, in spite of "pleas by the Ministry of 'Energy. Mr Birch, to hold fire until effects on the geothermal resources had been investigated. The. council’s district manager, Mr H. C. Childs, confirmed this, saying the council had no legal authority to impose a blanket ban on the drilling of bores to tap hot water and steam for domestic and commercial use. . . Mr Birch,.called for the moratorium ' after reports that domestic and industrial use could be disrupting the underground hot water reserves.' "" ■ Six .Government departments and the Commission for .: the .Environment have reported on the possible ef-

fects of uncontrolled drilling, and scientists are now investigating ..two hydrothermal eruptions at Whakarewarewa within the last month. Mr Birch wanted the moratorium to take effect until a review based on this report was completed, possibly by the end of the year. Mr Childs said his council had told Mr Birch it was “not possible for us to consider the request.” He said it was the council’s role to consider bore applications inside the old city council areas, under the Rotorua City Geothermal Empowering Act. and each application had to be considered on its merits. Under the Geothermal Energy . Act, which covered other parts of Rotorua, the Minister had the final authority to grant or refuse applications. The District Council had no authority to im-

pose a blanket ban. Without scientific evidence that the drilling of bores was linked to deterioration of the geyser field or to hydrothermal eruptions, applications could not be refused on that basis. “That is the only evidence on which the courts would make a decision,” Mr Childs said. The Rotorua geothermal field, which underlies much of the city, is tapped by about 460 domestic and commercial wells with an average depth of 100 metres. Mr Birch said he disagreed with the District Council’s interpretation of its powers. It had the right to refuse applications, and the uncertainty surrounding the - effects on the resources could be used as a condition. But he said no further action was planned, as it appeared almost no drilling was planned at the moment..