- Mokihinui Hydro
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Mokihunui Hydro Location of Mokihunui Hydro
Country New Zealand Coordinates 41°31′S 171°56′E / 41.517°S 171.933°ECoordinates: 41°31′S 171°56′E / 41.517°S 171.933°E Status Proposed Owner(s) Meridian Energy Power station information Primary fuel Hydropower Power generation information Maximum capacity 85 MW The Mokihunui Hydro is a proposed hydroelectric dam and power station planned for the Mokihinui River on the West Coast of New Zealand. The project is being developed by Meridian Energy and is expected to cost $300 million. In April 2010, resource consents to dam the Mokihinui River were granted to Meridian.[1] The Department of Conservation lodged an appeal with the Environment Court.[2]
The scheme is expected to generate between 310 and 360 gigawatt hours a year, and will enable the region to use its own natural resources to generate electricity, which is currently supplied via long vulnerable transmission lines.[1]
Contents
Consultation
In 2007, Meridian Energy Limited consulted affected parties about its proposal to place a hydro-electric dam on the Mohikinui River.[3] The dam would be located 3 km upstream from Seddonville, between it and the Mokihinui Forks. Meridian Energy began investigating the proposal in 2006, following from similar studies conducted by the New Zealand Ministry of Works in the 1960s and 1970s.[4] On 15 March 2008, the West Coast Regional Council called for public submissions on Meridian's applications for resource consents. Forest and Bird are opposing the dam and have accused Meridian of not making public a report from Landcare Research that advised that the hydro scheme would cause significant adverse environmental effects.[5]
Recreational use after construction
Meridian Energy state that there will be recreational benefits with the lake formed by the proposed dam. Boat ramps will be provided for access onto the new lake. A local trust is planned that will have an access track, called the "Old Ghosts Road", pushed through to Lyell following a historic gold miners route.
Opposition
Opposition to the proposal has been expressed by a number of recreational, environmental and fishing organisations including:[6]
- Buller Conservation Group
- Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ
- Department of Conservation
- Federated Mountain Clubs
- Fish and Game New Zealand
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
- Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
- NZ Federation of Freshwater anglers
- New Zealand Historic Places Trust
- NZ Rafting Association
- NZ Recreational Canoeing Association
- West Coast Environmental Network
- West Coast Tai Poutini Conservation Board
- West Coast Waitbaiter's Association
The opposition is due to number of reasons: the river and the 330ha of forest that would be inundated has high intrinsic natural values, it is regarded as a scenic river, and it has valued recreational use for whitewater activities and tramping.
In April 2010, the Department of Conservation stated that it had lodged an appeal with the Environment Court of the decision to grant the resource consents to Meridian Energy.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Meridian's West Coast hydro dam gets go-ahead". National Business Review. 6 April 2010. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/meridians-west-coast-hydro-dam-gets-go-ahead-121064.
- ^ a b "DOC to appeal Mokihinui decision" (Press release). Department of Conservation. 2010-04-29. http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/doc-to-appeal-mokihinui-decision/. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
- ^ "The Mokihinui Hydro Proposal". Meridian Energy. http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/OurProjects/Mokihinui+hydro+proposal.htm. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
- ^ "Mokihinui Hydro Factsheet". Meridian Energy. October 2007. http://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/NR/rdonlyres/70B1E86A-D74E-4A3F-A977-4BEC919012E2/23427/Mokihinui_FactSheet_WEB1.pdf. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
- ^ "Forest & Bird calls on Meridian to come clean over Mokihinui cover-up". Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society. 19 March 2008. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/publications/media-releases/forest-bird-calls-on-meridian-come-clean-over-mokihinui-cover. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
- ^ Henzell, John (2008-08-23). "Groups vow to halt dam". The Press (Fairfax). http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/south-island/593654. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
External links
- The Mokihinui Hydro Proposal - resource consent applications, submissions and decisions of the hearing panel considering the proposal on behalf of the Buller District Council and the West Coast Regional Council
- Mokihinui Hydro Proposal at Meridian Energy
- Save the Mokihinui: Too Precious to Dam - Forest and Bird campaign
- A tale of two rivers a film by Dave Kwant and Bill Parks
Categories:- Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand
- Buller District
- Proposed hydroelectric power stations
- Buildings and structures in the West Coast Region
- Proposed power stations in New Zealand
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