WAIRAKEI GEOTHERMAL PROJECT

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 63, 1 April 1953, Page 4

WAIRAKEI GEOTHERMAL PROJECT

WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 1953.

F is significant of the growing importance to be attached to the Wairakei Geothermal Steam Project that the biggest news story carried by the national daily press of New, Zealand last week had reference to the development of this scheme. We refer to the Prime Minister's announcement that heavy water, the highly valuable substanee required in connection with the operation of atomic piles, might be produced in New Zealand, and that subject to certain investigations, geothermal steam would be used in the plant to be established for its production. While the geothermal project may still be regarded as being in the research stage, it has long been felt in Taupo that those engaged in the work were confident that very large resources of steam were available. Even before this announcement, when the development of electric power was regarded as the main aim to the research project, it was, apparent that the scheme represented work of major national importance. The news now released obviously increases that importance very greatly. And in an.age which, in the last few years alone, has been marked by the amazing developments of atomic research, this news gives New Zealand a probable place in the scientific applica- • tion of atomic theory alongside the United States and Britain. That there should be the possibility of work of such high national importance being carried on in the Taupo area cannot help but arouse great interest among the people of the Taupo Country. More than that, it will increase the interest already taken in Taupo by the people of other parts of thb country. From the purely local point of view, and quite apart from the national importance of the geothermal project, it is obvious that the development of this work over the next decade or two, or more, will have very valuable incidental results for the town of Taupo. The seasonal fluetuation of business in Taupo, due to its position as a tourist resort, will be considerably smoothed out by the increase in population resulting from the increase in workers engaged. The re^ sulting increase in local business, added to the increased development of recent years in the local timber industry, and the major schemes of land development now taking shape in the district, indicates clearly that a period of active progress lies ahead of the town and district.