Extension to bore licencing deadline

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 23

Extension to bore licencing deadline

Wellington reporter

The interim arrangements under which all shallow bores within I.skm of Whakarewarewa must be licensed have been extended for another three months. This would allow the Government to finalise details of a long-term management regime for shallow bores, said the Minister of Energy, Mr Butcher.

He expected a longterm regime in place by the time the latest order expired on March 2.

People who had already had their bores licensed by the Ministry of Energy would have their licences automatically renewed for three months. But Mr Butcher warned that operators of unlicensed shallow bores in the I.skm zone faced possible prosecution. The Minister’s order applies to bores of 61 metres or less, tapping geothermal energy within the I.skm zone. Under the order permission to drill new bores will be granted only in exceptional cir-

cumstances. This management programme for the geothermal field, which included closing all deep bores in the zone last year, has reduced peak winter draw-off of geothermal fluid by more than 70 per cent.

Mr Butcher said there had been signs of recovery of natural surface features, such as geysers and hot pools, since the closing programme and these signs were heartening.