Whangaehu power scheme looks promising

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 454, 22 September 1992, Page 1

Whangaehu power scheme looks promising

Half of the required landowner signatures have already been acquired to permit the proposed Whangaehu power scheme to proceed further, the September King Country Energy board meeting was told. Proposed for the Whangaehu power scheme a 100 MW hydro station using the heavily polluted water of the Whangaehu River. The , scheme requires a 24 kilometre tunnel from the headwaters to the power station. A meeting with landowners was held on 17 September and there appeared to be no objection to the scheme in principle, the board meeting was told. Director Gordon Gower said some of the landowners had concerns about fencing which would need to be overcome, but these were not insurmountable. Once landowner approvals have been gained, it is intended to carry out an exploratory drilling programme, which will give a lead as to whether or not the proposed tunnel can be economically drilled. Providing there appears to be no obvious geological constraints, resource consents and fi-

nancing for the full scheme will be sought - a process expected to take up to three years. If it does finally proceed, the $200 million scheme is expected to start producing electricity around the year 2000. Director Bill Peach said it was hoped to have a public meeting to outline the details of the scheme within two months. Meetings with various interest groups such as Maori, environmental and recreational groups had taken place on 19 September.