COBB SCHEME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 22 February 1941, Page 4

COBB SCHEME

PROBABLE COMPLETION TIME ABOUT MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR SUPPLY OF STEEL FOR PIPELINE As far as could be judged from the progress of the work, power from the Cobb hydro-electric plant should be available in seventeen months’ time, but the time of completion of the work would depend on the supply of steel for the pipeline, said Mr Robinson, of the Public Works Department, at yesterday’s meeting of the Waimea Electric Power Board. Mr Robinson, who was visiting the district in connection with a request made by the Marlborough Power Board tc the Minister for the transmission of power from the Cobb to the Marlborough area, was welcomed to the meeting by the chairman (Mr H. E. Stephens). Mr Stephens pointed out that the Waimea Board’s finances were being seriously affected by the cost of power from the Diesel plant, and it was a matter of importance to the Nelson district that the Cobb scheme should be completed as soon as possible.

Mr Robinson said that the department was doing everything possible to expedite the work, and as far as could be judged at the moment power would be available in 18 months from the beginning of this year. Difficulty was being experienced in securing supplies of steel for the pipeline, and the supply of steel would determine the time for the completion of the scheme. If the department could get the steel the completion time might be a little earlier, and if not, it would be later. TRANSMISSION LINE In answer to questions Mr Robinson said that good progress was being made with the transmission line. It was expected that the line between Stoke and Motueka would be completed by August, which would allow the Waimea board to exchange power between its two areas. DAM TO BE CONSTRUCTED Mr Robinson said that it was intended to put the water straight into the tunnel for a start, but the department would later provide a dam for the storing the water. Investigations were at present being carried out to determine the site and design of the dam to be constructed. The plant would operate quite satisfactorily without a dam and the district would be able to have all the power it required. If Marlborough was given a supply the scheme would still provide sufficient power. It was the intention of the ; department however to construct a dam in the Cobb. Mr J. McKenzie, the Nelson District Electricity Controller, who was also present, said that the tunnel should be completed by June or July of this year. The chairman thanked Mr Robinson and Mr McKenzie for the information th‘y had given to the board.