Gorge Electricity And Water Scheme Discussed

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1949, Page 2

Gorge Electricity And Water Scheme Discussed

The possibjJity of a hydfpf-e'lectric scheme in the Otaki. Gorge ltpt'qase' the power shortage, ahcj. .-a majog. water scheme from the samq. softfce to supply Otaki, Horpwhehtia South,- Waikanae, Paraparaumu, and as far south- as Tawa Flat/has' been the subject df " corr espon^e'hce' between the Ministei; 'of Works, Hon. -R. Semple, and . the, Otaki Comrnercial Association. ; Towards the end of January a deputation comprising Mr. J. D. Avery, representing the associa- j tion, and Messrs. N. D. Anderson and E. J. Cook, representing the j Otaki Borough Coimcil waited on the Minister and his advisers, the chief electric power engineer, and the chief works engineer. The Minister explaine'd Vthat a report referred to in the correspondence was based on one given to the Government by an engineer named Anderson, who said the maximum power available from the . Otaki River would be 4000 horse power. On being asked when the report was given, Mr. S.ejnple-.re-plied 1904. He agreed . withr.thp deputation that the report would be out of date now. • • • •

ihe cnier power 'engineer aayisea that the main • power .. wire now being used for' distribution was toc heavy for any minor scheme. Members of the deputation suggested the desirability of not having all power schemes in the one river the Waikato, on account of the possibility of earthquake, and the ■ Minister stated that experts were coming out from Italy to examine the feasibility of steam plants in the Rotorua thermal regions. The power engineer advised further that the two schemes could not work together, as in the summer time, when the water would want to be conserved for power, there would at the same time be a big demand for water for domestic and commercial use. Mr. Semple suggested that the idea of a power scheme be dropped, and that the one for" water be concentrated * on. ' It • wouldq have his support, he' pfomise'd? • ,u. Mention was made -O'f 'a- -'Prass report in January ■ of * - a si-miiar scheme by tapping the Waikanae River. Nothih'g was knowir o£ this scheme, and it was'mentioned that correspondence relating "to Otaki's scheme dated back to October. Mr. Semp'e spoke in 'favour of . cne major scheme.^ and repe.ated tfiat when it came ' before 'him -he would support it. He suggested a conference of local - and a'djoining councils. . - Prior to withdrawingy ihe ^leputation took the oppor.tunity-of- 'thanking the Minister- for the,_,good 'woi;k dohe to the Otaki R,iver/f\y^h dragline. •• ' Following the - presentatiqn oi the above report . ;to. fhe .Otaki Borough Co.uncil's .. meeting on Wednesday night, discussion revealed that individually councillors considered the suggestion of a water supp'y scheme a very good one. It was agreed that expert advice should be sought, however, as to local conditions and require--ments, and it was decided to refer the matter to the. council's consulting engineer for a preliminary report before sponsoring the scheme. Crs. Anderson and Cook were accorded thanks for their efforts and reports.