WAITAKI DAM

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1933, Page 7

WAITAKI DAM

THE SAFETY POINT BEACHED

PERIOD OF ANXIETY OVER

CHRISTCHURCH, November 20.

The critical stage of the seasonV, work in the construction of the Waitaki hydro-electric power scheme has , been successfully passed, and there is i every indication that the whole plant ! will be ready for production in the j winter of 1935, according to the engineer, Mr B. H. l’ackwocd. ‘ “Progress -was well maintained List j week,” he said. “The first giage of ' safety, at which we have been aiming | all along—to reach the river level in ' ,thci middle section. of the dam—h ;s

been accomplished and 90 .per cent, o I the danger has been passed.” Between now 7 and Christmas time, he said, the concrete would be raised well above flood level. “We now 7 anticipate no furf.hur difficulty, end we feel much happier wdth the position generally. We have been exceedingly fortunate in that the river lias been w r ell behaved. Flood,s are late in arriving this season, ami th ! s ha. s helped us considerably. At .piveent the level is low and we are making the most of the si-nation, continuing to pour the usual 7000 to 8000 tons of concrete into the dam a week.”

On many occasions Mr Packwood and his men have had to race against time to maintain the safety of the scheme.

and at no stage was the work more critical than last week. Had the river

flooded a fortnight ago then the coffer dam, a temporary structure protecting the main dam, might have been destroyed and a 'considerable amount of time lost.

Every day with the river at a normal level this month bring the scheme nearer to complete success, and the engineer believes that there is now no occasion for any anxiety.