WANGANUI POWER SITE ABANDONED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 21

WANGANUI POWER SITE ABANDONED

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 16. Power investigations on the No. 1 site on the Wanganui river had been abandoned. the Minister of Works and Electricity (Mr Goosman) said today after he had received a report from the Commissioner of Works; The report said that in 1959 an intensive investigation of power sites on the Wanganui river was put in hand and several sites were examined. For the last two years work had been largely concentrated at the No. 1 site at Murray's farm, 14 miles from Wanganui. It was expected that a preliminary report on that site would be ready by early 1961, but the planning committee of 1960 was given a report from the Ministry of Works indicating that this site was not providing as good as was hoped. Confirmation

Mr Goosman said investigations were continued but they only confirmed earlier fears that the nature of the country at that site would not be favourable for the construction of a high dam even with the advanced techniques available today. The Minister said the abandonment of the site did not mean the cessation of work on the Wanganui river as other sites were being examined where the nature of the country was different. One site was at Atene, about 22 miles by road from Wanganui, where investigation work was begun last year. Mr Goosman noted that as well as to the high hopes for the No. 1 site not likely to being sustained, the size of the scheme ther was likely to be less than 400.000 kilowatts. "Many Aspects" He said there were many aspects regarding the development of the Wanganui river which required careful consideration. One was the effect of diverting water from the upper reaches into

Lake Taupo, another was the effect of power development on the working of the river port at W’anganui. These aspects added to the time required to investigate the actual power sites made it clear that the estimated lapse of two years before a report could be ready seemed only too short, Mr Goosman said.

However, he said, that was the aim of the work at present and every endeavour would be made to keep within the time schedule. The Minister said the report he had received was unequivocal in its findings and left no doubt that the action now taken was the only reasonable course open to him.