Clyde-based generation development project manager Neil Gillespie, who has begun reviewing the company's old proposals for dams at Tuapeka Mouth, Luggate and Queensberry, yesterday said there was a possibility his research could recommend a dam on another part of the river.
Anything, including a dam at a new site, was possible, he said.
The investigation into the three former dam projects would involve re-examining each separate project but taking a "big picture" approach by looking at the best options for the river as a whole.
"We need to start off by picking up from where we left them [the projects].
"We need to finish off those projects, have a look at what has changed since then and what hasn't, so we can make an informed decision."
It was too early to say exactly how Contact would approach this review, but aspects would include survey work, engineering analysis and, eventually, consultation with affected communities.
Review costs and time-frame were uncertain"For now, we're taking stock of what needs to be done to get these projects to the point where we can seriously see if they stack up."
Last week, Contact said if its investigations "stacked up" one or all three former schemes could be advanced in some form by 2015.
It has already secured resource consent for a 16MW scheme on the Hawea dam and its board meets soon to consider signing off that project.
