Friday 13th May 2022
Page 6
PORTERS PASS ROUTE DELAYS Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will be repairing a retaining wall at Porters Pass, west of Springfield on SH73, over the next ten weeks into early July. Although the wall urgently needs to be repaired, Covid supply chain delays meant the steel needed, has only recently been delivered. “The retaining wall work started on Monday, May 9th,” commented Tresca Forrester, Forrester Journey Manager for Waka Kotahi. “While crews will be working daytime hours, road users will be affected 24/7 by the single lane past the site until the work is complete. Traffic signals combined with a 30km/h speed restriction will allow single lane traffic to pass the site safely over a 1.2 km stretch for the duration of the work. “On weekends, manual traffic management (Stop/Go) may be used at peak times, for example, to ensure people can get to the ski fields in the
mornings and away in the afternoons without undue delay. During weekdays, people need to factor in an extra ten minutes travel time. “We have talked to the ski field operators on SH73 and are in close communication with them if they open in June or early July. In the event of snow falling on the highway, crews will disestablish for the day and if possible open the route to two lanes. “Ideally, this work would have been done over summer, but the materials are only available now. We will do our best to ensure delays are avoided and ask all road users to play their part by obeying the traffic signals and our traffic managers using Stop/Go at all times,” Tresca concluded. For updates on this work programme visit: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ traffic/roadworks/382343 or www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ canterbury/trafficcanterbury/trafficupdate/730502
MANAWA ENERGY LAUNCHES IN CANTERBURY The Coleridge and Highbank Power Schemes received a makeover last week, with Owner / Operator Trustpower changing its name to Manawa Energy. To mark the launch, Manawa Energy has announced it will support native planting and restoration projects in each of the regions where it operates hydroelectric power stations. “Manawa Energy owns and operates the most geographically dispersed set of energy assets of any generator in New Zealand,” commented General Manager of Generation, Stephen Fraser. Fraser “We’re proud to be a part of communities throughout the country, it’s our point of difference and is one of our greatest strengths. “In Canterbury, we are supporting a native planting at Lake Coleridge. Our contribution will help with land preparation, planting, ongoing maintenance and pest control,” Stephen
The Coleridge penstocks, power station and Rakaia River. added. The name change follows the sale of the company’s mass market retail business along with the Trustpower brand, which took place on May 1st. With the sale complete, Manawa Energy becomes one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest electricity generators and renewables developers, responsible for around five percent of the country’s renewable electricity generation.
“Manawa Energy is focused on delivering the increase in new renewable generation that is needed for the country to meet its climate change commitments through electrification, while continuing to be invested in the success of communities around New Zealand,” Stephen concluded. The Coleridge Power Scheme has been a part of the Canterbury community since 1914.
