To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Waitaki power station, the community is invited to an open day at the station on Sunday October 25, 2009.
Meridian’s Mike Roan, General Manager of power station operator Meridian’s Markets and Production unit, says Meridian is working with the local community to plan some special events to mark the occasion.
“We’re in the early stages of helping plan the celebrations and we’re looking forward to opening up the station to visitors for the day.
“We know the community, including many past and present members of our own staff, has a real affiliation with the station, whether it’s through family ties and history or just by living and working close to this special asset. So we’re all looking forward to making the 75th anniversary a special day,” added Mike.
Meridian will be opening the power station up to visitors on Sunday 29th October as part of the celebrations. Buses will be available to take members of the community to and from the power station on Sunday 25th October, from a pick up point at Hydro Place, Bledisloe Street, Kurow.
“We’re going to do our best to safely accommodate as many visitors as we can for the tour of the station, so we’re providing access to by a special bus service,” says Mike Roan. “The first bus will leave at 9.30am from Hydro Place and transport will run every half hour through to 2.30pm.”
Further activities that will celebrate the special anniversary will be announced closer to the Labour Weekend.
Background
Waitaki power station was constructed during the Depression years in the late 1920s to early 1930s and spawned the initial thinking behind what was to become the Social Welfare Act 1938.
Construction took place using the “pick and shovel” method, the last such time this construction method was used in New Zealand. During these Depression years a tent camp sprang up just below the dam site where men lived in the hope that they would gain work on the construction site.
The power station was commissioned in January 1935 when it began generating electricity for the nation. Today, the same turbine runners are still in use. “It says a lot for the quality of the workmanship of the time, and often under extreme weather conditions”, says Mike Roan.
For further information:
Claire Shaw
External Communication Manager
021 370 677.
www.meridianenergy.co.nz