Board considers biogas request

Press, 25 October 1984, Page 9

Board considers biogas request

Local authorities should have the first option on any excess biogas, Mr R. H. Arbuckle told the Drainage Board last evening. The Nga-Hau-E-Wha Christchurch National Marae had asked the board for biogas to heat an inten-

sive horticultural project it plans to install on land adjacent to Cuthberts Green at the rear of the marae, in Pages Road. The project involves six large plastic tunnel houses and 12 specialised hydropon-

ics houses which will require about 2000 kW of heating. A critically controlled temperature is needed at all times. A report by the engineer said that the gas demand of the hydroponics hot houses might be very difficult to meet. The peak load was high and likely to exceed availability of gas. The load would not be steady. Mr Arbuckle said that while he had tremendous admiration for what the marae was doing, he felt that the board had a responsibility to ratepayers. Any surplus gas should go to local authorities rather than any particular community group, he said. Mr R. E. Wilton said that the marae would be totally reliant on biogas and it

would be embarrassing for the board if, at any time, it was unable to supply it. Vehicles could switch to petrol if there was ever a shortage, he said. The chairman of the board, Mr Newton Dodge, said that the board would have to look at the gas issue carefully. Elections . Mr Dodge was -e-elected chairman of the board unopposed last evening. The board is required to hold elections for chairman, deputy chairman, and standing committee chairmen, each year. Mr Maurice Carter was re-elected deputy chairman, also unopposed. The standing committee chairmen also were unchanged.