S.I. HYDRO SCHEMES

Grey River Argus, 26 August 1946, Page 8

S.I. HYDRO SCHEMES

On East Coast Th e State Hydro-Electric Department has decided to build a temporary dam at the outlet of Lake Tekapo to provide additional water storage for the winters of 1947 and 1948 until the permanent Tekapo station and dam are finished early in 1949. In addition, a start will he made this year with the building of a permanent dam at the entrance to Lake Pukaki. which may give additional storage for next winter, and will be finished before the winter of 1948.

Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, General Manager of the Department, said _ it was proposed to meet the growing demand progressivey in each winter until 1951, when the big Clutha or Black Jack’s Point, scheme is expected to be finished. The winter of 1951 may be the crucial period. The reticulation of some power boards was now carrying all it could, and boards generally had a good deal oi deferred maintenance to do before there could be a great deal of extension. The department’s • calculations were based on an annual increase of 10 per cent, in demand for power, but he did not think there would be such an increase in the; next two or three years in the Soutn Island. The position there was different from that in the North Island, where the demand had been banking up during a period of shortages. There might be a bit of a squeeze in the winter of 1947, when contracts for the use of stand-by plants would .be used again. In addition, a temporary .barrage was being put in at Tekapo, which would give about six feet of storage, compared with 15 to 20 feet to be provided by the permanent dam. Work on this was starting almost immediately. It was hoped to finish the job so that storage could be built up this summer. The department would go ahead with a permanent dam at Pukaki, but it was not certain if the dam would be finished in time to provide additional storage for next winter. Greater use would also be made of Highbank this year. Irrigation schemes were not taking the full draw-off this Veal- - 1948 the department would have additional storage at Pukaki, and a new 15,000-kilowatt generator at ’ Waitaki, to give more power at WaiI taki right through the summer, and thus have greater storage in Lakes Coleridge and Waipori, which would give more power in the winter. By 1949 the Tekapo station, with a

generator of 25,000 _ kilowatts, should be available. The generating machinery was originally due for deliveiy this year, but the date had been put back to June, 1947. After that the next station would probably be m the Clutha, where an access road was now being built. Foundations were still being tested but they a PP to be sound. The winter of 1951 might be tight.