New Water Supply Scheme Interests Council

Chronicle (Levin), 25 January 1949, Page 2

New Water Supply Scheme Interests Council

■ • A recent communication from the Otaki Commercial Association : to the Hon, R. Semple , suggested the possibility of impounding the water below tlie Otaki Forks, at the junction of '.the three' streams Otiki, Waiotatopia and Waikawa, it was considered t'hat if suitable damming was undertaken, the impounded water would serve the district's water requirements, that a supplementary power scheme could be investigated and that further river control would be possible. The reply of the Minister was to the effect that a former design engineer to the State Hydroelectric Department had estimated that an output of the order of 4000 h.p. could be expected from a power station situated at the Otaki Forks. It was the policy of the Government, he said, to devote construction efforts to major schemes. "It is not considered that the high cost of the construction of a dam at the Otaki Forks would be justified, either for river control or for power development, nor could such work be- justified for a water supply scheme alone unless other substantial advantages would also accrue from this construction work," the letter concluded. The secretary of the Otaki Commercial Association, Mr. N. B. Anderso'n, submitted copies of the correspondence to the Otaki Borough -Council at its meeting last week and sought its support. He stated t'nat his association v/as of the opinion that the matter was a very, important one, , aiid one that should be fully investigated, and expressed7 the hope that it would be taken up with the Minister personally. » Councillors agreed that t'he suggestion of commercialising a water supply was the right one, and after a general discussion it was agreed that Cr. E. J. Cook be authorised to contact the Minister personally, ahd/'take the matter up with him.