Lake Mahinerangi is a lake formed when a dam was built on the Waipori River for hydroelectric generation. The lake is 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the west of Dunedin in New Zealand's South Island. Construction of the dam started in 1903 and since 1907, power has been produced.
The lake was named for Dorothy Kathleen Mahinerangi Burnett. She was the daughter of William Burnett, who was mayor of Dunedin in 1911 and 1912.[1] The lake has a maximum length of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), and lies on the western side of Maungatua, above and to the west of the Berwick Forest. It is surrounded by farmland, tussock grasslands, and plantation forest.
Hydro-electric development
Mahinerangi Dam
The tributaries of the Waipori River are in the Lammerlaw Range. The river descends gradually until the Waipori Gorge, where it suddenly drops 222 metres (728 ft) in approximately 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). This makes the gorge an ideal site for a hydro-electric scheme. The first proposals to develop the river for hydro-electric generation were prepared in 1900, for powering gold mining dredges. However, the plans were eventually altered to supply power to Dunedin city and surrounding districts. Construction began in early 1903.
The generating plant commenced operation on 27 April 1907. Electricity was transmitted to Halfway Bush substation in Dunedin via two 33 kV lines.[2] However, there was no storage built into the original scheme, and in the first year of operation, low flows in the river led to constraints on the generating capacity. Between 1907 and 1913, some storage lakes were created on tributaries, including an early concrete arch dam on Pioneer Creek.
There was opposition from gold mining interests that blocked the development of storage capacity on the Waipori River itself, because Waipori Flat was still being actively mined. In 1920, the Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Act was successfully pushed through Parliament, against opposition from mining interests, to enable the use of the Waipori River as a hydro-electric reservoir.
The first dam was built in 1923, and later raised, but ultimately had to be abandoned because of inadequate foundations. A second Empowering Act of 1924 enabled another dam to be built further downstream, with work beginning in 1927, and completing in 1931. Lake Mahinerangi was formed by this new 20.4-metre (67 ft) high dam, and an additional powerhouse of 3,000 kilowatts (4,000 hp) capacity was commissioned. The new lake submerged the mining township of Waipori.[3]
The Mahinerangi Dam was completed to its final height of 33.5 metres (110 ft) in 1946. By 1955, two more generating stations had been built downstream from the original powerhouse. There have been further replacements and additions to generating capacity between the 1960s and 1980s.[4]
The Waipori hydro-electric scheme includes a network of four dams and power stations and produces a maximum output of 84 megawatts (113,000 hp).[5][6]
Arms
At the southern end, the lake has two major arms, called Loch Luella and Loch Loudon.
Fishing
The lake is well stocked with brown trout and some perch. The elevation is nearly 2,000 feet (610 m) and the lake can be very windswept and cold, which makes the fishery best suited to the warmer months.[7]
Martin, John E, ed. (1998). People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880–1990 (Second ed.). Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. ISBN0-908912-986.
Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country: New Zealand’s National Grid 1886–2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. ISBN978-1-877448-40-9.
March 07, 2023
lake, mahinerangi, lake, formed, when, built, waipori, river, hydroelectric, generation, lake, kilometres, west, dunedin, zealand, south, island, construction, started, 1903, since, 1907, power, been, produced, locationclutha, district, otago, region, south, i. Lake Mahinerangi is a lake formed when a dam was built on the Waipori River for hydroelectric generation The lake is 35 kilometres 22 mi to the west of Dunedin in New Zealand s South Island Construction of the dam started in 1903 and since 1907 power has been produced Lake MahinerangiLake MahinerangiLake MahinerangiLocationClutha District Otago Region South IslandCoordinates45 52 S 169 57 E 45 867 S 169 950 E 45 867 169 950 Coordinates 45 52 S 169 57 E 45 867 S 169 950 E 45 867 169 950Lake typereservoirBasin countriesNew ZealandMax length12 km 7 5 mi Contents 1 Naming 2 Hydro electric development 3 Arms 4 Fishing 5 Wind farm 6 Notes 7 ReferencesNaming EditThe lake was named for Dorothy Kathleen Mahinerangi Burnett She was the daughter of William Burnett who was mayor of Dunedin in 1911 and 1912 1 The lake has a maximum length of 12 kilometres 7 5 mi and lies on the western side of Maungatua above and to the west of the Berwick Forest It is surrounded by farmland tussock grasslands and plantation forest Hydro electric development Edit Mahinerangi Dam The tributaries of the Waipori River are in the Lammerlaw Range The river descends gradually until the Waipori Gorge where it suddenly drops 222 metres 728 ft in approximately 4 000 metres 13 000 ft This makes the gorge an ideal site for a hydro electric scheme The first proposals to develop the river for hydro electric generation were prepared in 1900 for powering gold mining dredges However the plans were eventually altered to supply power to Dunedin city and surrounding districts Construction began in early 1903 The generating plant commenced operation on 27 April 1907 Electricity was transmitted to Halfway Bush substation in Dunedin via two 33 kV lines 2 However there was no storage built into the original scheme and in the first year of operation low flows in the river led to constraints on the generating capacity Between 1907 and 1913 some storage lakes were created on tributaries including an early concrete arch dam on Pioneer Creek There was opposition from gold mining interests that blocked the development of storage capacity on the Waipori River itself because Waipori Flat was still being actively mined In 1920 the Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Act was successfully pushed through Parliament against opposition from mining interests to enable the use of the Waipori River as a hydro electric reservoir The first dam was built in 1923 and later raised but ultimately had to be abandoned because of inadequate foundations A second Empowering Act of 1924 enabled another dam to be built further downstream with work beginning in 1927 and completing in 1931 Lake Mahinerangi was formed by this new 20 4 metre 67 ft high dam and an additional powerhouse of 3 000 kilowatts 4 000 hp capacity was commissioned The new lake submerged the mining township of Waipori 3 The Mahinerangi Dam was completed to its final height of 33 5 metres 110 ft in 1946 By 1955 two more generating stations had been built downstream from the original powerhouse There have been further replacements and additions to generating capacity between the 1960s and 1980s 4 The Waipori hydro electric scheme includes a network of four dams and power stations and produces a maximum output of 84 megawatts 113 000 hp 5 6 Arms EditAt the southern end the lake has two major arms called Loch Luella and Loch Loudon Fishing EditThe lake is well stocked with brown trout and some perch The elevation is nearly 2 000 feet 610 m and the lake can be very windswept and cold which makes the fishery best suited to the warmer months 7 Wind farm EditTrustpower s Mahinerangi Wind Farm is located to the north of the lake 7 Notes Edit Constantine Ellie 8 January 2009 Haven at end of road to nowhere Otago Daily Times Retrieved 12 March 2012 Reilly 2008 pp 29 30 Otago places Taieri Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved 21 April 2012 Martin 1998 pp 33 36 Lake Mahinerangi NZ Travelingluck com Retrieved 12 March 2012 Lake Mahinerangi Dam and Power Station Waipori Falls Otago Dayout New Zealand Dayout co nz Retrieved 12 March 2012 a b Lake Mahinerangi Nzfishing com Retrieved 12 March 2012 References Edit New Zealand portal Water portal Renewable energy portal Martin John E ed 1998 People Power and Power Stations Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 1990 Second ed Wellington Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand ISBN 0 908912 986 Reilly Helen 2008 Connecting the Country New Zealand s National Grid 1886 2007 Wellington Steele Roberts ISBN 978 1 877448 40 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Mahinerangi amp oldid 1040717572, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
