Use of Waitaki water allowed

Waitaki Dam Aerial view

Hydro generation on the Waitaki River is a significant step closer, with Meridian Energy having gained final approval to take water from the lower Waitaki for its proposed $900 million North Bank Tunnel project.

The decision comes after four years of debate and objections from conservationists and opens the way for the second stage – land purchase.

If the go-ahead is given in the second stage and construction goes ahead, a 12-metre-wide, 36km-long underground tunnel will be drilled, to carry up to 280 cubic metres of water per second, producing 1400 GWh of electricity annually – enough to power Christchurch.

"We're obviously pleased to get the water consent," Meridian spokeswoman Claire Shaw said.

"Our next step is to start talking to landowners and other stakeholders about the land use consenting process we will embark on."

Meridian predicts the tunnel's construction could put $350m into the South Canterbury and North Otago economies.

The consensus, between Meridian and the Lower Waitaki River Management Society, was reached after changes were made to Meridian's application. As a result, the Environment Court gave the company consent to take and use water from Lake Waitaki and to discharge water into the lower Waitaki River for 35 years.

"The main issues we addressed were environmental issues surrounding wetlands and braided- river birds," Ms Shaw said.

Management society chairman Bill Penno said while the group did not get everything it had been asking for, they were still happy.

"We've come to a situation which, basically, I think is acceptable."

Mr Penno said the process had been demanding and the group had relied on donations to be able to make a legal push for changes to Meridian's application.

While the water was now allowed to be used, Ms Shaw said that was only the first step.

"We will be moving to gain consent for land use next, so subject to approvals construction is several years away.

"We are actively pursuing this project and have, for the past 12 months, been conducting engineering feasibility studies which will form part of our consultation process for the land use consent with our stakeholders."

Once complete, the tunnel scheme will feed into the Hunter Downs irrigation scheme, which could irrigate up to 40,000 of 60,000 hectares of land from the Waitaki River as far north as Otipua.

Ms Shaw said Meridian yesterday attended a pre-hearing meeting with the Environment Court and they expected to continue mediation with appellants "in the coming weeks".

THE NORTH BANK TUNNEL

Size: 36km long, 12 metres wide.

Where: On the Waitaki River's north bank, between the Waitaki Dam and Stonewall.

Take: The tunnel will have a maximum flow rate of 260 cubic metres of water per second.

Power: Will be delivered to more than 175,000 homes in Otago and Canterbury.

Time: The project is expected to take seven years to complete and will employ more than 400 people.

- © Fairfax NZ News