ARAPUNI POWER STATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 7

ARAPUNI POWER STATION

RESUMPTION OF OPERATIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR REFILLING LAKE. (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, March 22. The filling of Arapuni Lake as a preparatory measure to a resumption of the power supply will commence on Thursday evening. It is expected that the works will be functioning and power will be available by April 10, nearly two months before the schedule time. Owing to a total lack of rain for some time it is estimated that it will tako nearly 14 days to fill the lake. The area to be supplied with power will embrace Opotiki, Te Kuiti, Helensville, Takapuna, Thames, and Waihi. When Arapuni is functioning it will replace the hydro plant at Horahora, the Diesel plant at Penrose, and the Huntly steam plant. These plants will be maintained to guard against the event of trouble at Arapuni. During the lake-filling operations the river level at Hamilton will fall six feet to seven feet below the normal, involving a cessation for that time of practically all navigation on the Waikato River. The water in the lake must rise until it reaches the level of the headrace 140 feet above the ancient bed of the Waikato River. Running over this, the water will flow down to Forebay at the foot of the outdoor station. The water which is required for the generation of electricity will flow down the tunnels to the power house, and once again turn the turbines which are to supply a great part of the Auckland province with electricity.