- North Bank tunnel
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North Bank tunnel project Location Waitaki River, New Zealand Status Proposed Owner(s) Meridian Energy Power station information Primary fuel Hydropower Power generation information Maximum capacity 200 MW The North Bank tunnel concept is a hydroelectric scheme being developed by Meridian Energy on the Waitaki River in Canterbury, New Zealand. The $993 million project is expected to produce an additional 1100 to 1400 GWh pa, and take up to 260 m³/s of water from Lake Waitaki. The project will result in a 275 GWh pa reduction in output from the Waitaki hydro station.[1]
Discovery of geological faultlines prompted rethink of the project, including consideration of using a canal instead of a tunnel.[2]
This project is at a similar location to Project Aqua, a hydroelectric power proposal abandoned in 2004.
Contents
Resource consent process
In December 2008, Environment Canterbury granted water use consents for this project[3]. Appeals against this decision were made by Ngai Tahu, Ngai Tahu Fishers People Inc, the Lower Waitaki River Management Society and Black Point farmer Garth Dovey.[4] The appeal hearings were held in the Environment Court during June and July 2009[5], with water rights being granted in September 2009.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Bruce, David (1 July 2009). "Meridian outlines details, link to dam". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/63515/meridian-outlines-details-link-dam. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Faultlines spark redesign in Waitaki power project". New Zealand Herald. 16 September 2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10673853.
- ^ Bruce, David (24 December 2008). "Meridian gains approval for tunnel power scheme". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/37276/meridian-gains-approval-tunnel-power-scheme. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ Bruce, David (31 January 2009). "Four appeals received against tunnel scheme". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/41463/four-appeals-received-against-tunnel-scheme.
- ^ Bruce, David (14 March 2009). "Appeals may take 5 weeks". Otago Daily Times. http://www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/north-otago/47426/appeals-may-take-5-weeks.
- ^ Cogle, Fleur (26 September 2009). "Meridian wins water rights for hydro project". Timaru Herald. http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/2905561/Meridian-wins-water-rights-for-hydro-project. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
External links
- Meridian Energy - North Bank Tunnel Concept
Categories:- Hydroelectric power stations in New Zealand
- Tunnels in New Zealand
- Proposed hydroelectric power stations
- Proposed power stations in New Zealand
- Buildings and structures in the Canterbury Region
- New Zealand building and structure stubs
- Hydroelectric power plant stubs
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