What would be the impact on native ecosystems and wildlife?

Westpower and its partners are committed to mitigating and minimising the negative impacts of this project. Unlike traditional hydro schemes where the river is dammed, this run-of-river scheme allows water to flow downstream at all times. And there is no flooding of the upstream area.

It’s worth noting that when Environment Minister, David Parker, declined Westpower’s original application build the Waitaha Hydro Project in 2019, he said he stated he was satisfied that “the effects on birds, bats, lizards, invertebrates, vegetation, native fish, and other aquatic communities, sediment, and river morphology will be minor”.