Contact Welcomes Consent For New Hydro Scheme

Contact welcomes resource consent for new hydro scheme

Contact Energy has welcomed the granting of resource consent for a small hydro electricity generation project at the Hawea Dam in Central Otago.

The Otago Regional Council has given Contact the green light to start work on the installation of generating plant within the existing Hawea Dam, which will harness water falling into the Hawea River to produce up to 17 megawatts of renewable electricity.

"This is positive news for Contact and for the Otago Lakes region," said Contact Chief Executive, David Baldwin.

"Demand for electricity in the Otago Lakes region has increased rapidly over the last 10 years and this project will provide the local community with up to 17 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity."

The project was originally lodged by Contact in 2004, but this application was withdrawn and a new scheme developed to meet community concerns over the environmental impact of the project.

"We have taken on board the views of the community and redesigned the scheme to reduce its environmental impact," said Mr Baldwin.

"We now have a very good renewable generation project with minimal environmental impact and a much higher level of community support.

"We will continue to work closely alongside the local community as we now develop this project further, particularly on the appearance of the project," he said.

Construction of the dam is expected to take at least two years and work on the site could start as early as late 2008.

When construction starts, it is not expected to disrupt the use of the river for kayaking and it will be timed to accommodate brown and rainbow trout spawning.

ENDS

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