KAIMATA DAM

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1937, Page 5

KAIMATA DAM

/ STATEMENT BY ENGINEER. Self-explanatory, the following statement has been given to the "Star” by the Grey Power Board’s Engineer (Mr. Sinclair Trotter): — "In connection with the alleged stare of unrest said io exist in Greymouth by Councillor Blanch'field, owing to fears of an accident to the Arnold dam, I have been asked to give a statement of the facts. "Firstly, there are no structural defects in the dam itself, and no cause fur alarm as to the safety of the structure. The.work going on at the dam consists of laying a new and longer apron to replace the original apron which has broken up. This apron is not part of the dam structure itself, and contributes nothing to its stability, its sole purpose being to prevent erosion of the river bed in front of the dam from the sheet of falling water. A.n apron is necessary oil the Arnold dam. owing to the river having a papa rock bottom which will not stand up to turbulent water, and protection is necessary to ensure the safety of the dam structure.

"Those of the public who arc acquainted with the Board's headworks will realise that the comparatively small amount of waler impounded by the Arnold dam forms no menace to Greymouth in the event of its release. A sudden discharge of this water would not produce a decent fresh in the Gre.v River, and a little knowledge of the conditions or a visit, to these headworks would, or should, convince Cr. Blanchfield that his fears of a serious flood with havoc in Greymouth and Blaketown are the result of his imagination.

“However, damage to the Board’s dam resulting in the release of any considerable quantity of waler would seriously interfere with the electricity supply. The Board are fully aware if the serious consequences of any fail ure of power supply, and it is ilioir business to maintain their plant am! keep it in working order sj far as it is humanly possible* to do so, without, concealing facts or anything pertinent to the operation of the works whichthe public arc entitled to know. The Board cannot, however, be responsible for ill-informed and sometimes mischievous rumours which circulate from time to time in connection with various phases of the Board’s activities.”