Rules governing lake's water levels alters

THE summer minimum level for Lake Tekapo remains 704.1 metres above sea level, however the conditions for when Meridian can drop the lake lower than this are being changed.

The 18-year-old resource consent conditions are not being eased, rather they are being altered because the power industry has changed. In 1990 the then Electricity Corporation of New Zealand (ECNZ) oversaw all power generation. The resource consent allowed for the lake to be taken lower between October and March if there was a power shortage.

The shortage had to mean that both the Huntly and New Plymouth power stations were used to their fullest possible extent.

ECNZ no longer exists and since 1999 the generation plants are owned by competing companies: Mighty River Power Ltd, Meridian Energy Ltd and Genesis Power.

Both the Mackenzie County Council and the Tekapo Community Board have given their consent as affected parties to a resource consent change governing Meridian's use of Lake Tekapo.

As the Huntly and New Plymouth stations are not within Meridian's control, a realistic alternative resource consent condition is required.

The alternative trigger proposed by Meridian is that the Electricity Commission or similar statutory controlling body determines that reserve generation capacity should be used or the National or South Island minimum zone has been breached.

Meridian will now seek to vary its condition by way of an application to the Canterbury Regional Council.

Meridian spokesperson Alan Seay said the lake had been filling recently with nor'west rain in the catchment and snow melt. It is 55 per cent full.

- © Fairfax NZ News