Local residents expressing anger as a business plans to expand operations into Lake Hāwea
In a move that has sparked debate within the community, Contact Energy, a leading energy company, has proposed reducing the minimum operating level of Lake Hawea to boost renewable energy generation. This proposal, which has been flagged by the Otago Regional Council, has raised concerns about the potential impact on the local drinking water supply.
Joanna Gilroy, the general manager of environmental delivery at ORC, confirmed the council's communication with Contact Energy regarding the proposal. Meanwhile, Boyd Brindson, Head of Hydro Generation at Contact Energy, has assured residents that depriving people of their drinking water would not happen.
The proposal, if implemented, could see the lake's level lowered to as low as 330m above sea level in extreme circumstances. A 2023 report prepared for Otago Regional Council suggests that such a drop could disconnect the lake from the aquifer and cause a substantial decline in groundwater levels, potentially leaving hundreds of Hawea Flat residents without drinking water.
Local farmer Erynne Fildes and Hawea Flat resident Rachel Brown have both expressed concerns about the potential trade-off between access to drinking water and electricity supply security. Fildes urged unity among residents to lobby against the proposal heading down the fast-track route, while Brown questioned if such a trade-off was necessary.
Pioneer Energy, the company behind the proposal, has applied for fast-track consent. In response, Contact Energy has asked Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop to consider if the proposal qualifies for this process. The company has also pledged to work closely with local communities and stakeholders throughout the process, should they proceed with a substantive application.
Otago Regional Councillor Michael Laws has pledged to stand against the proposal, joining the chorus of voices expressing concern. Local farmer Jerry Rowley spoke about the 'unmitigated disaster' of the 1970s when a drop in lake levels caused widespread dust storms and a 'scene of desolation'.
The issue came to the forefront at a public meeting attended by nearly 300 people, where Brindson urged the community to work with his company, not against it. He compared the proposal to an 'insurance policy' for New Zealand's electricity security, assuring the public that the lake would seldom be at the end of the operating range and is unlikely to ever drop as low as 330m.
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