A36km long, 12m wide tunnel is being planned by Meridian Energy as part of a hydroelectric scheme on the north bank of the Waitaki River near Oamaru on New Zealand’s South Island.
The tunnel, which would be built by up to three tunnel boring machines, would reach depths of 610m under Station Peak and 510m under Mount Parker, according to Meridian Energy hydro development project manager Tony McCormick.
McCormick said the tunnel, if it went ahead, would be a substantial feat of engineering. Details of the plans were outlined by McCormick during public hearings held by the Waitaki Water Allocation Board to consider the scheme.
A pre-feasibility report was completed in April and Meridian Energy now plans to carry out a feasibility study, followed by preliminary design and detailed design. No start date has been confirmed and no cost estimates have been done but the North Bank Tunnel of the scheme “was New Zealand’s largest renewable energy option¨. The scheme is forecast to take up to four years to complete.