The Christchurch City Council's scheme to obtain power from the Waimakariri River, near Pattersons Creek
The Christchurch City Council's scheme to obtain power from the Waimakariri River, near Pattersons Creek
[1923]
The proposed dam site was one mile from Otarama Station, about ten miles above the Gorge bridge. It was to be 140 ft high and 370 ft long, built of reinforced concrete. A possible site for the powerhouse was selected, a quarter of a mile below the dam. A pontoon was anchored in the river from which water and shingle flows were measured and the bed rock drilled to determine its suitability to carry the weight of the dam. The scheme was abandoned when the government of the day opposed independent power generation
The view from the camp showing the proposed dam site in the middle distance and in the foreground the Midland Railway. "The nearness of the railway will be a most important factor in the economy of transport of material an easy communication". While they were doing the preliminary surveys, 25 surveyors and workmen camped in tents Pattersons Creek was later renamed Pattersons Stream
File Reference CCL PhotoCD 9, IMG0086
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