No need to sacrifice Nevis for power, says Parker

The Nevis River gorge, which could contain a new hydro dam.
The Nevis River gorge, which could contain a new hydro dam.
A hydro-electric power scheme on the Nevis River would make an insignificant contribution to the country's electricity supply, so sacrificing the river for that reason was unnecessary, former minister of energy David Parker said.

The list member of Parliament was giving evidence in Dunedin yesterday in support of an application aimed at stopping any damming of the river.

The New Zealand and Otago Fish and Game Councils are seeking an amendment to the water conservation order on the Nevis, to increase the level of protection and ban any future hydro-electric developments.

A special tribunal has been appointed by the Minister for the Environment to hear the matter and the month-long hearing began in Cromwell last week.

Mr Parker said the contribution hydro-electricity from a scheme on the Nevis might make to New Zealand's energy future was "relatively insignificant" so the tribunal should not decline the application on the basis of the river's hydro potential.

A scheme on the Nevis would generate up to 45MW, which would make only a modest contribution to the 3200MW increased generation capacity required by 2025.

There was already substantial hydro generation in the Otago-Southland region and it had about 19% of the country's total operational electricity generation capacity.

"Further hydro development, particularly on the Nevis, would further permanently compromise remaining natural river values in the region," Mr Parker said.

It was reasonable to ask whether the region had already made a sufficient contribution of its natural river values to the national interest of secure electricity supply.

Mr Parker said it was unfair and unnecessary for any more burden to be placed on the region's rivers, particularly the Nevis, as its outstanding characteristics had already been recognised by the existing water conservation order.

Achieving the Government's renewable electricity target did not require "every last river to be dammed", he said.

The value of unmodified rivers had gone up because there were fewer of them.

"They do not need to be sacrificed in the interests of renewable energy production. The water in a river is renewable, but a river ecosystem, once dammed, is not."

New projects in Otago and Southland which would generate 1103MW were already under construction, consented or in the consent process, he said.

That figure represented almost 20% of the national total of new energy projects. The increasing capacity in this region was mainly wind generated and comprised TrustPower's Mahinerangi project (200MW), which had consent, and Meridian Energy's Project Hayes (600MW).

The consent for Project Hayes has been appealed and a decision is pending.


Day 6

Tribunal: Richard Fowler (chairman), Carolyn Burns and Rauru Kirikiri.

Application: To amend the existing water conservation order to prevent damming or diversion of the Nevis River.

Players: NZ and Otago Fish and Game Councils want the changes, Pioneer Generation and TrustPower are among those in opposition.

Yesterday: Evidence was heard from member of Parliament David Parker, Alan McMillan on behalf of Public Access NZ, NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers and the Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ, Dave Witherow, John Jillett,archaeologist Gillian Hamel and Hoani Langsbury (Otago Conservation Board). Representing Te Runanga o Moeraki, Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki and Te Runanga o Otakou were Edward Ellison, Tim Vial and Jim Williams.

Quote of the day: "Angling is only one of a substantial number of activities which could be compromised by industrial development in the area" - Alan McMillan, of Dunedin, representing Public Access NZ, NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers, Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ.

 

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