Mangahao Release Cancelled
Submitted by Mike Birch on Sat, 2009-10-31 08:11.
The Mangahao Release, which was scheduled for today, has been cancelled due to mechanical failure. Todd Energy have advised that the slalom course will be running with 12 cumecs from 11:30 AM.
Todd Energy are well aware that many people travel long distances to run the Mangahao River. The cancellation was very unfortunate, but I don’t know if making a list will be that helpful, except maybe to direct those people here for information.
Paul Robinson of Todd Energy told us (via e-mail):
“At this stage there is nothing conclusive pointing towards a root cause
of gate failure, but I do suspect that there maybe rocks/debris jammed
about the gate guides as a result of the reservoir Desilting operation
March 2009.
As part of our dam safety operations the annual silt/gravel deposited
against the dam structure is flushed out (as per Resource Consents) down through the same gate/tunnel providing the recreational flows.
The non operation of the gate came as a surprise as the gate had also
received an extensive overhaul prior to the successful March 09
recreational release.
Station personnel will be carrying out a series of tests on the gate
over the next few weeks. The No2 reservoir will be drawn down via the
power station in an attempt to reduce the reservoir head-pressure on the gate.
As with regards to future releases, station personnel will test the gate
opening operation a couple of days prior to the scheduled recreational
release and inform of the result.”
Paul also said they'll provide Whitewater NZ with an update at the completion of their investigation and we will publish that information here.
Mike, would it be worth getting together a list of people who were heading to the release + where they were coming from? There were a few people who'd driven down from Taupo + I heard there were others coming from Tauranga...
Two of us travelled over from Taranaki, and we will look forward to the replacement release. We were told that the slalom course would not be running until Monday so had already moved on (to Rangitikei), pity as I have never paddled the slalom course.
I can understand how frustrating it would have been to travel a long way to the Mangahao yesterday, only to discover that the release was cancelled at the last minute. The gate, which releases water from the base of the dam was unable to be opened. They tried from 7:30 until we were notified at 8:30. It's unfortunate, but it sounds like it they did their best to get the gate opened. A replacement release date will be published on the Events & Releases page.
Mike Birch
Access Officer
This Was a Bullshit call by the Power Company.
There were a lot of paddles myself included who had gotten up at a super early hour Hired a van packed it with 8 kayakers and driven almost all the way the Mangahoa river only to be told its cancelled ??
Todd Energy has some explaining and compensating to do for all those paddlers who made the treck from wellington Hawkes Bay and as far as Taupo to paddle the river only to be told at the relese time there would be no release.
pissed of....