Assessment of Environmental Effects- Summary
The Arnold Hydroelectric Power Scheme will see water flowing in the Arnold River will be drawn into a canal at the location of the existing dam at the Arnold Reservoir. The minimum flow remaining in the Arnold River will be 12 cumecs rising to 16 cumecs during late Spring and Summer. The canal will convey water to a storage pond, which in turn will feed a power station, before being discharged back to the Arnold River via a regulation pond.
Anticipated Effects
Any development proposal has the potential for both positive and negative environmental, social and economic effects. TrustPower has strived to ensure that a sustainable balance will prevail in relation to its proposed Hydro Electric Power Scheme on the Arnold River.
At the outset of project planning, TrustPower sought to establish a communication process which encouraged dialogue and robust discussion between the engineers charged with responsibility for designing the Scheme and the specialist consultants it engaged to evaluate the environmental, social and economic effects of the engineering designs. A thorough process was completed which entailed looking at options from all perspectives, providing feedback to the designers, and generating modifications to the design proposals.
Throughout the process, TrustPower undertook communications with a wide variety of potentially interested parties; a process which provided much useful information which TrustPower fed back into the design process. TrustPower considers that this extensive process of design, assessment and re-evaluation has produced a design for the Scheme which will provide a major new, additional supply of sustainably generated renewable electric power to the West Coast and the national grid. There will also be consequential employment opportunities and secondary (multiplier) economic benefits (primarily to the Coast) during the construction phase.
The potential environmental, social and economic effects were thoroughly evaluated in section 6 of the Assessment of Environmental Effects Report (click here to view that report). Where the design details result in potential unavoidable impacts, TrustPower’s experts identified mitigation measures to offset these.
Additional mitigation measures have been developed in consultation with stakeholders and interest groups. These measures have been accepted by TrustPower - which has committed to their implementation, and which will form an integral part of the construction works for, and operation of, the Scheme.
