Power prophecy comes true-71 years later

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 60, 30 July 1974, Page 6

Power prophecy comes true-71 years later

In 1903 a Californian electrical engineer mentioned, in his report to the Minister of Public Works, that the electricity generating potential of the Waikato watershed was such that some day it would prove to he of wonderful value to the "colony." Seventy years later the accuracy of this prediction is beyond doubt. When the Tongariro power development scheme is completed maximum electricity generation from the waters of the Waikato will have been achieved. The subject of the scheme and its effects on the environment, history, and people's lives, is discussed in a new Ministry of Works and Development publication, "New Zealand's Latest Power Story." The eight hydro-electric stations on the Waikato river have a generating, capacity of more than one million kilowatts. The Tongariro development will increase the — annual power production of these stations by some 16 per cent, at the same time and add 300,000 kilowatts of generating capacity at

Tokaanu and Rangipo. Total cost of the develop--ment will be approximately $270 million. The booklet shows that fiill development of the Tongariro scheme will not only harness the region's water power, with the least possible disturbance of the environment, but also add to its attractions. It has been accepted on the Tongariro project that the scheme is the joint venture of constructors, engineers, architects, and landscape designers. Under the heading "Turangi — a Town for all Seasons," the booklet explains how Ministry of Works and Development planners took the opportunity to create a permanent town of 7000 people rather than just build another temporary "project" town. Once the power project is completed it is planned that the town, with its modern shopping, sporting, cultural, and recreational facilities, will become a centre for farmers, tourism, forestry, fishing and hunting, and the holiday trade in general. The Tongariro project passes through the tribal

lands of the Ngati Tuwharetoa people. To preserve much of the historical information buried in the land, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust employed a full-time archaeologist on salvage archaeology. Before a bulldozer touched any site the area was looked at from an archaeological point of view. A small museum wing, attached to the Turangi information centre, was opened by the Minister of Works in 1971. It is a visible expression of co-operation between construction forces and the local population. The illustrations of "New Zealand's Latest Power Story" give a striking impression of the power project. Colour photos of the Poutu and Tokaanu tunnels, dams, canals, and powerhouses, give an idea of the immense srize of the constructions and the difficult terrain encountered. Tuonellers, many of them Italian, struck un-, pleasant gases, hot water, steam, soft rock, and fractured or hard rock, during tunnel construction.