North Bank Waitaki Hydro Project - Consultations

Meridian talks with landowners on design proposal for the North Bank Hydro Project

For immediate release: Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Meridian Energy has begun consultation with landowners on a proposed design for the North Bank Hydro Project.

The North Bank Hydro Project, proposed for the north bank of the Waitaki River, gained water only consents in August 2010. Meridian is now focused on engaging with landowners and other key stakeholders on a proposed design before seeking further consents to build the scheme.

“The project takes a long term view of the needs and opportunities for the region and the country. We’ll be taking the time to work with others to ensure that we get it right,” said Nick Eldred, Water Infrastructure Development Manager, from Meridian.

Initial technical investigations have revealed some challenges with the rock along the north bank that have prompted reconsideration of the original concept of building a full tunnel scheme. The proposed design involves the middle 13km portion of the hydro scheme being a canal, with the upper and lower sections of the 34km scheme being tunnels. The canal section of the scheme would be sited on privately owned land and hug the hills along the north bank, avoiding communities and major infrastructure.

Meridian is now talking with landowners to identify a possible route for the canal section within a potential corridor, and continuing overall technical investigations for the scheme.

“While the critical factor in progressing the proposed design option is support from landowners, we are committed to engaging with all key stakeholders as part of the process,” said Nick Eldred, Water Infrastructure Development Manager, from Meridian.

Once constructed, the North Bank Hydro Project will generate 1400 GWhrs per annum, enough electricity to power the households in a city the equivalent size of Christchurch.

http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1009/CANAL_SCHEMATIC_SKETCH_C_2.pdf

ENDS
About Meridian Energy
Meridian is New Zealand’s largest electricity generator and currently owns and operates nine hydro stations and three wind farms within New Zealand, and one wind farm in Australia:
• Manapouri power station and eight hydro stations on the Waitaki River in the South Island
• Te Apiti wind farm near Palmerston North
• White Hill wind farm in Southland
• West Wind farm in Wellington
• Mt Millar wind farm, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
• CalRENEW 1 solar farm in Mendota, California
Internationally, Meridian has operations in Sydney Australia and San Francisco, California. Meridian recently announced the establishment of a joint venture with Australian energy company AGL to build what will be the southern hemisphere's biggest wind farm in southwest Victoria The 420MW Macarthur wind farm is due for completion in 2013.
Meridian retails electricity to around 188,000 customers throughout New Zealand, which includes households, farms and businesses. It also provides electricity to New Zealand’s single largest electricity user, the Rio Tinto Alcan New Zealand Limited aluminium smelter in Bluff.
Meridian invests strongly in renewable energy development both in New Zealand and offshore and has recently commenced construction on the Te Uku wind farm, in Hamilton, New Zealand.

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