SCHEME COULD IMPACT HIGHBANK POWER GENERATION
25 June 2008
By PAUL GORMAN
The electricity supply of more than 12,000 average Canterbury households could be affected by the Central Plains Water (CPW) project, the hearing into the irrigation scheme has heard.
Electricity generator and retailer TrustPower operates the 28 megawatt (MW) Highbank power scheme and the 1.9MW Montalto scheme, which both use water diverted from the Rangitata and Ashburton rivers through the Rangitata diversion race.
The energy output of both schemes is sufficient to meet the needs of about 12,250 households.
Senior environmental officer KirstyJoynt told the CPW hearing in Christchurch yesterday the joint generation-irrigation scheme could be affected by the construction and management of the Central Plains intake near the Highbank tailrace, involving diverting a major braid of the Rakaia River towards the intake channel on the north bank.
If the outcome of that meant the river's main flow did not reach the south bank until at or below the Highbank tailrace, there was a risk the passage of salmon could be affected.
The Highbank scheme was subject to a number of resource consents regarding the Rakaia's salmon fishery.
If a bypass flow could not be maintained past the Highbank tailrace salmon barrier, the operation of the power station would be affected as TrustPower would be in breach of its consents, she said.
Yesterday morning, Hugh Rennie, QC, outlined two submissions being given on behalf of Canterbury milk companySynlait which held existing water consents for irrigation and had a further water right application pending.
The CPW scheme, if consented and commissioned, would need Synlait's participation, he said.
Later in the day, evidence to be presented by hydrologist Dave Stewart for Synlait was ruled ir relevant and dismissed.
© 2008 Fairfax New Zealand Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The Press
Go to top
Print Page
Smaller
