Local residents expressing anger as a retailer plans to extend operations near Lake Hāwea
Headline: Contact Energy Proposes Lowering Lake Hawea's Water Level for Renewable Energy Boost
Local farmer Erynne Fildes and several district councillors have called for unity among residents to lobby against a proposal by Contact Energy to lower the minimum operating level of Lake Hawea. The proposal aims to boost renewable energy generation and secure electricity supply for New Zealand, a claim made by Boyd Brindson, Head of Hydro Generation at Contact Energy.
If approved, the water level of Lake Hawea would be lowered from its current minimum of 338m to 336m, and in extreme circumstances, as low as 330m. This decline could lead to the failure of many bores and potentially leave hundreds of Hawea Flat residents without drinking water.
Brindson assured residents that depriving them of drinking water would not happen, and the lake would seldom be at the end of the operating range, being unlikely to ever drop as low as 330m. However, a 2023 report prepared for the Otago Regional Council found that if the lake's water level dropped to 330m, it would likely disconnect the lake from the aquifer and cause a substantial decline in groundwater levels.
Nearly 300 people attended a public meeting to express concerns about the potential impacts on the community and its drinking water. Otago Regional Councillor Michael Laws pledged to stand against Contact Energy's proposal, while Councillors Cody Tucker and Niki Gladding also spoke of the fight ahead against the proposal.
Contact Energy has lodged a referral application with the government in June to enter the proposal into the fast-track consenting process. The company has asked Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop to consider if its proposal qualifies for the fast-track approvals process.
Brindson compared the proposal to an 'energy insurance policy' for New Zealand's electricity supply. He urged the community to work with his company, not against it, and assured that Contact Energy will work closely with local communities and stakeholders throughout the process if a substantive application is made.
If the proposal is approved, Contact Energy plans to work with experts to weigh the benefits and environmental and community risks of the proposal. Joanna Gilroy, ORC's general manager environmental delivery, confirmed that the council had flagged the 2023 drinking water report with Contact Energy.
Boyd Brindson also stated that the proposal is not about shareholder returns but about securing electricity supply for New Zealand. He emphasised that Contact Energy will work with experts to ensure the best possible outcome for all parties involved.
In response to concerns about a potential shift to the lake's shoreline, Brindson clarified that such a shift would not occur. Residents fearing this possibility have voiced their concerns, stating that the lake cannot 'move' to the shoreline.
Contact Energy has proposed to work with experts to weigh the benefits and risks of the proposed lake level reduction, with the aim of increasing renewable energy production and securing electricity supply for New Zealand. The company's proposal has received government approval, but the community's concerns and opposition are growing. The future of Lake Hawea's water level remains uncertain as the proposal moves forward.
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