EROSION AT ARAPUNI DAM

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1929, Page 12

EROSION AT ARAPUNI DAM

EMPTYING OF LAKE . PROBABLE.

REASON FOR DELAY ASKED.

By Telegraph,—Press Association.

Te Arolia, Sept. 5.

The recent development at Arapuni was discussed at a meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board. The chairman, Mr. Strange, stated that it had been estimated that eight years would elapse before the falls would creep back to the spillway, endangering the works at the head of the penstock tunnels, and no safety measures beyond the steel lining of a portion, of the diversion tunnel to give greater security should it be necessary to empty the dam were adopted.

Had a start been made with the driving of the additional penstock tunnels when the danger from rapid erosion at the falls first became apparent, and had water to the full capacity been sent through the tunnels, the department could not have been faced with such serious difficulties. It would be reasonable to assume that the departmental heads- in Wellington were advised of the danger by the engineer in charge of the works, and were responsible for the failure to take adequate safely measures. s

Mr. Strange said that the present indications were that the dam would have to be emptied and that they would have to revert to the conditions before Aiapuni was linked up till the falls were concreted. On the motion of Mr. H. M. Corbett it was decided to write to the department asking that the board should be informed of the reason for the failure to take the only course of action which could have ensured safety, and who was responsible for the inaction.