Safe Canals Report Ensures Project Aqua Security
Consistent with international practice, Meridian Energy has prepared a report outlining the ways it plans to ensure the
safety of the proposed Project Aqua canals.
Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay said part of this process involved assessing a range of hypothetical canal breach
scenarios, so that effective security measures could be put in place to limit any impact in the unlikely event of a
breach.
“The report emphasises from the outset that the risk of a canal breach actually occurring is extremely low. Its purpose
is to identify the full range of measures that can be included in the design and construction process to minimise the
impact in the unlikely event of a breach occurring,” he said.
“The whole point of the report was to find out where security measures were needed. Now we know where these areas are,
we can put these measures in place,” said Mr Seay.
The same process was undertaken with Meridian Energy’s many other hydro-dams and canals, reflecting its commitment to
responsible ownership.
Mr Seay said Meridian’s Dam Safety Policy (DSAP) was regularly reviewed to make sure it continued to represent
international best practice.
Project Aqua will automatically be incorporated into the DSAP, the effectiveness of which was highlighted during the
Fiordland earthquake on August 22.
“A Meridian response team was mobilised within minutes and the Manapouri Power Station and Waitaki chain stations
continued to operate without interruption,” said Mr Seay.
“Even the huge loads generated by the August 22 quake were well within the design parameters of all of our structures.”
Project Aqua is a proposed hydro-electricity scheme with a 60-kilometre canal, six hydro power stations, two outfalls
and new high-voltage transmission lines. It would run along the south side of the lower Waitaki Valley, from an intake
at Kurow to an outfall 6 km from the coast. It would generate about 3000 GWh in an average year and 2000 GWh in a very
dry year.