|
The interim decision is available at http://www.ecan.govt.nz/Resource+Consents/WaitakiConsents/.
The final decision is available here.
The North Bank Tunnel Concept is a hydro generation proposal taking water from Lake Waitaki and discharging it back into the Waitaki River about 34 km downstream near Stonewall.
Meridian Energy’s investigations to date have shown that there is potential for a viable tunnel concept if the water resource can be secured. This staged consenting approach ensure that the essential resource, the water, is available before millions of dollars are invested on detailed engineering investigations and to ensure the community has the opportunity to understand and have input into the concept as it develops. The water-only consents do not authorise the construction of the tunnel or any power station.
The scheme would extend from the Waitaki Dam to Stonewall. Over this distance the river drops about 125 metres and it is this elevation drop, or head, that would be utilised by the tunnel concept to generate electricity. The consents is for a water take at Lake Waitaki and water discharge back into the Waitaki River at Stonewall on the north bank opposite and upstream of Black Point.
A monthly flow regime is proposed for the Waitaki River based on the variable, seasonal in stream and out of stream values and the electricity demand cycle. The minimum flows vary between 110 and 150 cumecs. For more information on the water-only applications go to the Resource Consent Application page.
Planning is underway to complete the necessary engineering studies to prepare and lodge the land use resource consent applications. For further information on this process interested engineering consultants or other parties can go to the Engineering Feasibility Study page.
|