POWER SCHEME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 8

POWER SCHEME

FOR ASHBURTON COUNTY. AIDED BY IRRIGATION WORKS. PROVISION FOR, THE FUTURE. Because of the possibility of the overloading of Lake Coleridge and Waitaki hydro-electric power plants in the not far distant future, and the fact that there is ample supply of water in the ltangitata River, the .Public Works Department is making provision for the installation of a liydro-eiectric generating station on the banks of the Rakaia Gorge, to be operated by the overflow ol water from the main irrigation channel. Survey work in connection with this scheme of the future has been carried out by officers of the hydro-electric section of the Department, and it lias been arranged to have a change made in the excavation of the main irrigation channel from Rocky Gorge so that it wilt carry a greater volume of water than is at present provided for. This channel, constructed to carry 800 cusecs, which is about three and a half times the volume of flow in the Ashburton River on average summer observations, will be taken across country, from Klondyke to the Rakaia Gorge, a distance of about 30 miles. Under the new proposals, the channel will be enlarged to enable it to cany water sufficient to feed the auxiliary irrigation channels ancl also maintain a supply for a power station. The station, it is stated, would be erected below the Rakaia River terrace, giving the water a fall of about 600 feet from the top and producing all the force necessary to supply generating units. When he was asked if he knew anything of the proposals, Mr Hi E. Herring, M.P., referred the question to the Chief Electrical Engineer (Mr F. T. M. Kissell) when he was in 4V elUngton this week, and he was informed that the scheme had been gone into but. that it would be five or six years before a station would, be established. Waitaki power station was becoming overloaded and arrangements had been made to install two new generating units there in the near future, and fiiey would serve the purpose in the meantime. It is stated on good authority that the new station, when in operation, will be the most inexpensive generating point in tho Dominion.