Mokihinui Hydro
Encyclopedia
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. The Department of Conservation lodged an appeal with the Environment Court.
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.
consulted affected parties about its proposal to place a hydro-electric dam on the Mohikinui River. 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. 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.
following a historic gold miners route.
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.
Mokihinui River
The Mokihinui River is a river located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, about 40 kilometres north of Westport.- Geography :The Mokihinui River's headwaters are located in the Glasgow Range and its mouth is on the Tasman Sea...
on the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of New Zealand. The project is being developed by Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
and is expected to cost $300 million. In April 2010, resource consents to dam the Mokihinui River were granted to Meridian. The Department of Conservation lodged an appeal with the Environment Court.
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.
Consultation
In 2007, Meridian Energy LimitedMeridian Energy
Meridian Energy Limited is a New Zealand state-owned electricity generator and retailer. The company generates the largest proportion of New Zealand's electricity, generating 32 percent of the country's electricity in the year ending 31 December 2009, and is the fourth-equal largest retailer, with...
consulted affected parties about its proposal to place a hydro-electric dam on the Mohikinui River. 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
New Zealand Ministry of Works
The New Zealand Ministry of Works, formerly the Department of Public Works and sometimes referred to as the Public Works Department or PWD, was founded in 1876 and disestablished and privatised in 1988...
in the 1960s and 1970s. On 15 March 2008, the West Coast Regional Council called for public submissions on Meridian's applications for resource consents. Forest and Bird
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. is an environmental organisation specialising in conservation of indigenous plant and animal life in and around New Zealand....
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.
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 LyellLyell, New Zealand
Lyell is the site of a historic gold mining town in the Buller Gorge in the South Island of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 6The location is now a campsite maintained by the Department of Conservation. None of the original buildings remain but a track from the campsite leads to a cemetery and...
following a historic gold miners route.
Opposition
Opposition to the proposal has been expressed by a number of recreational, environmental and fishing organisations including:- Buller Conservation Group
- Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations of NZ
- Department of Conservation
- Federated Mountain Clubs
- Fish and Game New ZealandFish and Game New ZealandFish and Game New Zealand is a statutory body set up to advocate for recreational hunting and fishing in New Zealand.It was set up under the Conservation Act 1987 with the statutory responsibility for the sports of freshwater sport fishing and gamebird hunting...
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New ZealandRoyal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New ZealandThe Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand Inc. is an environmental organisation specialising in conservation of indigenous plant and animal life in and around New Zealand....
- Green Party of Aotearoa New ZealandGreen Party of Aotearoa New ZealandThe Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
- NZ Federation of Freshwater anglers
- New Zealand Historic Places TrustNew Zealand Historic Places TrustThe New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
- 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
Whitewater
Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...
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.
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