MCKAYS CREEK AND KANIERE FORKS HYDROELECTRIC POWER SCHEMES RECONSENTING: HERITAGE ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 MCKAYS CREEK AND KANIERE FORKS HYDROELECTRIC POWER SCHEMES RECONSENTING: HERITAGE ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS Report prepared for ChanceryGreen on behalf of TrustPower Limited By Kim Tatton (MA Hons) Rod Clough (PhD) Vanessa Tanner (MA Hons) November 2010 Clough & Associates Ltd. 321 Forest Hill Rd, Waiatarua, Waitakere AUCKLAND 0612 Telephone: (09) Mobile

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction... 3 Historical Background Archaeological Background General Site Inspection Assessment of Effects Discussion and Conclusions Recommended Mitigation Bibliography Appendix 1: Baseline Inspection, Kaniere Water Race Appendix 2: Site Record Forms Appendix 3: Kaniere Forks HEPS Enhancements Appendix 4: McKays Creek HEPS Tunnel Enhancements Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 2 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

3 INTRODUCTION Purpose of Report The McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks Hydroelectric Power Schemes (HEPS) are situated on the Kaniere River, inland from Hokitika on the west coast of the South Island (Figure 1, Figure 2). These two small HEPS are owned and run by TrustPower Ltd (TrustPower). Water rights for both the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS were granted in 1986 and expire in TrustPower is applying to re-consent the existing McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS (Existing Environment), and also implement two enhancement projects to upgrade and improve their efficiency (McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks Enhancements). The Kaniere Forks HEPS incorporates heritage items by its use of the original Kaniere Water Race that was built in 1875 to supply water for gold mining claims at Kaniere Forks. The water race is recorded as archaeological site J33/67 in the New Zealand Archaeological Association (NZAA) site recording scheme. The heritage values of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS are also relevant as they themselves date from 1931 and 1908 respectively. This assessment of environmental effects (AEE) report was commissioned by ChanceryGreen on behalf of their clients TrustPower to identify any archaeological or other heritage constraints, and assess the potential and actual effects on archaeological and other heritage values in respect of the proposed re-consenting proposals for the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 3 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

4 Figure 1. Hokitika Lake Kaniere Region (Google Maps 2009) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 4 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

5 Figure 2. Aerial view and overlay of project area. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 5 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

6 INTRODUCTION, CONTINUED McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS (Existing Environment) The McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS extend over the area between Lake Kaniere and McKays Creek in the Kaniere River valley (Figure 3). This area is accessed by Lake Kaniere Road that essentially follows the Kaniere River to Lake Kaniere. Approximately 50% of the land occupied by the Kaniere Forks HEPS is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) as the Lake Kaniere Scenic Reserve, for which TrustPower pay an easement fee (TrustPower 2009a). The other 50% is Crown land administered by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The Kaniere Forks HEPS has an intake structure at Lake Kaniere into the Kaniere Water Race that leads to the Kaniere power station and a tailrace to the Kaniere River (Figure 3, Figure 4). The water rights for Kaniere Forks HEPS were granted in 1986 and expire in Currently the water rights allow TrustPower to divert 1m³/s (1 cumec) from Lake Kaniere into the water race and also discharge 1m³/s from the power station into the Kaniere River. The McKays Creek HEPS has an intake structure on Kaniere River, a water race that leads to the McKays power station and a tailrace at the Kaniere River (Figure 3, Figure 4). This power scheme s water rights were also granted in 1986 and expire in Currently the water rights allow TrustPower to abstract 5m³/s from the Kaniere River and 1m³/s from its tributaries (namely Blue Bottle Creek). In addition, TrustPower can discharge 6m³/s from the McKays Creek power station into the Kaniere River. McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS Enhancements The following Enhancements are proposed: Kaniere Forks HEPS Enhancements (see Appendix 3): - build new intake gates to allow increased water abstraction from Lake Kaniere into the Kaniere Water Race from 1m³/s to 8m³/s; - replace sections of the existing 1m³/s Kaniere Water Race with a new 8m³/s race following essentially the same alignment between Lake Kaniere and Wards Road. Over half of the new race will follow the existing cleared transmission line route. The new race will be trapezoidal, being 7m wide at the top and 4m wide at the bottom. There will be a 3.5m wide access track along one side of the race. The overall easement width for the new race will be approximately 20m, but the construction corridor may need to be 50m wide in places; and - build a new penstock, power station and tail race in the vicinity of Wards Road and ultimately decommission the existing Kaniere power station. This will result in the section of the Kaniere Water Race from Wards Road to the existing Kaniere power station being retired. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 6 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

7 INTRODUCTION, CONTINUED McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS Enhancements, continued McKays Creek HEPS Enhancements (see Appendix 4): - increase the water abstraction to the McKays race at McKays weir from 5m³/s to 8m³/s by increasing the height of the weir by 5cm and installing a v-notch weir below the lower bay; - minor repairs and local improvement of the existing McKays water race; - replace the leaking timber flume over Coal Creek; - refurbish and enlarge the existing McKays tunnel or bypass the tunnel and last 400m of race before the tunnel entrance by constructing a new section of race. The construction corridor for the new section of race would be between 25 80m. Excess cut material to be deposited elsewhere off-site; - build a new head pond, penstock and intake to the McKays power station; and - ultimately build a new power station adjacent to the existing McKays power station. Methodology The NZAA site database (ArchSite) was searched to establish whether any archaeological sites had been recorded on or in the vicinity of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS. Literature, early plans and archaeological reports relevant to the area were consulted at the DOC office in Hokitika and the Hokitika Museum. A general site inspection was undertaken of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS on 13 August and 5 November This inspection did not include a detailed ground survey of the entire area of the HEPS at this stage, but involved the relocation of the identified sites and a thorough inspection of the Kaniere Water Race. The race was photographed and GPS readings taken. Subsequently another site inspection was undertaken on August 2010 of specific areas of the HEPS where enhancements are proposed as part of an assessment of effects. It included detailed ground survey of the Kaniere Water Race between Lake Kaniere and Wards Road, the proposed area of the Kaniere Forks HEPS Wards Road penstock, power station and tailrace, the proposed alignment of the new section of the McKays Creek HEPS race and proposed areas for depositing cut material associated with this new section of McKays race. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 7 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

8 Figure 3. Area of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS between Lake Kaniere and McKays Creek. The route of the Kaniere Water Race and walkway is shown north of the Kaniere River (NZMS 260 J33) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 8 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

9 Figure 4. Existing McKays Creek and Kaniere HEPS Schematic Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 9 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

10 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Introduction A brief history of the Kaniere Water Race, and the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS, is provided here for context. The information has been drawn from a number of sources, including the materials held in the DOC Archives at Hokitika, the Hokitika Museum and the Lake Kaniere Water Race Walkway Heritage Assessment report by Katherine Watson (Dec 2008). Watson did extensive background research into the history of the Kaniere Race. Detail is provided here for background and where there is information on the form and modification of the race for archaeological reference. Gold Mining The Kaniere gold rush followed others around the West Coast gold rush capital of Hokitika in April Situated at the junction of the Hokitika and Kaniere Rivers, the proximity of the Kaniere diggings to Hokitika meant that the area was easily accessible and gold diggers and the associated suppliers arrived quickly. In July 1865 the estimated population of the Kaniere field was 3000 and it swelled to 4200 in October However, by 1867 miners were leaving Kaniere for other mining areas as many ventures on the field failed (Watson Dec 2008:3). The first mention of a proposal to tap the water resources of Lake Kaniere was on 6 June 1868 in a report in the West Coast Times (WCT). No doubt this proposal was a response to the flagging fortunes of the Kaniere gold field. After the easily recovered gold was exhausted, water races were needed to supply water for sluicing. A few months later, the first steps were being taken towards the construction of a water race from Lake Kaniere, with surveyors pegging the proposed line of the race, and drawing up plans, specifications and costings (WCT 26 Sep 1868). Construction of the Kaniere Water Race The Kaniere Lake Water-Race Company promoters held a public meeting in March 1869 to attract investors and publicise the details of their scheme. The intention was to build a race that was miles long and would run from Lake Kaniere to Big Paddock. Water would be used at Big Paddock, Ballarat Hill and various terraces in the parts through which the race would run, which had been abandoned through want of sufficient water supply to wash with. Further, this ambitious scheme hoped to supply water to the residents of Hokitika. It was promoted that the race could be constructed in six weeks with the work of 800 men and the race would carry 60 to 70 head of water (WCT 6 Mar 1869). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 10 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

11 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Construction of the Kaniere Water Race, continued As with many grand gold mining schemes, however, sufficient funding for the Kaniere Race was not raised and by December 1869 the company was being wound up (WCT 16 Dec 1869). Within four years, a new group had taken on the scheme and the race was in working order in The water race had been constructed to such a size that it was able to carry 75 Government sluice heads of water but was only registered to carry 60 sluice heads (Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives (AJHR) 1875 H3, p. 14). Although a number of parties had taken up claims along the line of the race, it was not the success that had been anticipated, and it was only supplying 30 men in 1876, out of a possible 475 in the area (AJHR 1875 H3, p. 14; 1876 H3, p. 12). By 1881 the race was no longer in use. In 1889 the AJHR reported that a group of Chinese miners had been granted use of the race, and that the race itself had never been completed to its planned extent (AJHR 1889 C2, p. 119). By March 1889, a group known as Owens and Party were at work on the race, preparing the first 5km of the race and adding a smaller 4km branch, to bring water to their claim at Kaniere Forks and Blue Bottle Creek. While sections of the race remained in good condition, the tunnels and fluming required some work to make the race usable again (WCT 3 & 5 Mar 1889). In 1890 the Kaniere Water Race and Mining Co. was registered, of which Owens and party were shareholders, and held rights to the Lake Kaniere water race (WCT 17 Mar 1890). This company diverted the race from the three mile peg (Lake Kaniere) and from there carried the water to the Kaniere Forks (AJHR 1890 C2, p. 69). The company s annual report in March 1890 included the following information about progress on the water race: During the period under review 29 chains of race cutting have been completed, the race now being in perfect order for a distance of over 3¼ miles, namely 3 miles of the old race (which has been reconstructed) and 29 chains of the new portion. In addition to this, 113 chains of benching have been completed, 290 feet of the race has been timbered, and 386 feet of boxing has been erected. Tenders are now under consideration for 59 chains of race cutting, being the remaining untouched portion of the new race With the possibility of extending the Company s interests at some future time to Kanieri [sic], Hau Hau and possibly Hokitika, the grant of 8 miles of the old Company s race, in addition to the 3 miles originally held by Owens and Party, has been obtained by application in the Warden s Court. (WCT 17 Mar 1890) The necessary works on the water race had been completed early in September and allowed mining to commence on the company s claim at the Kaniere Forks (WCT 1 Sep 1890). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 11 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

12 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Construction of the Kaniere Water Race, continued However, by 1894 the race had again been sold. The new owners extended the race by installing a pipeline across the Kaniere River to supply hydraulic sluicing claims working on the right hand branch of the river (AJHR 1894 C3A, p. 32). The race continued to be used throughout the 1890s, supplying hydraulic sluicing claims in the Kaniere Forks area. In 1894 water was also piped to claims up Blue Bottle Creek, where sluicing continued until In 1901 a company was repairing the race, as well as widening it and replacing the old sections of wooden fluming with iron siphons (AJHR 1901 C3, p. 106). Electricity Generation In 1906 H.H. Smyth proposed using the Lake Kaniere water race (Figure 5) to generate electricity, its purpose being to run equipment to dewater the deep alluvial mine shafts at Jones Flat in Ross (DOC: FS981/87, p. 9). Another scheme at the time was a proposal to use the race to supply the Hokitika town water supply from Lake Kaniere. This scheme was unsuccessful (WCT 8 Dec 1906, 18 Dec 1906). The Smyth proposal was successful, however, and the Ross Goldfields Ltd was formed to undertake the works. This company bought the rights to the water race (50 Government heads) and let the contract for installing the power scheme. In order to supply the necessary quantity of water to the power station, the size of the approximately 8 mile long race was increased and it was strengthened (DOC FS981/87, Ross Goldfields Ltd Prospectus, p. 12). Two iron pipes were installed, dropping the final 80m to the Kaniere Power Station to provide sufficient volume and pressure to drive the two 350 kilowatt (kw) turbines (TrustPower 2009). The Ross Goldfields Ltd prospectus contained the following information about the water race: Tunnelling forms a very large portion of the race, one tunnel alone being two miles from end to end. There was also some very large flumes across deep gullies. The tunnels are 4ft. 6in. by 5ft. 6in., and the open race 5ft. by 4ft. (DOC: FS981/87: p. 12) Opened on 8 September 1909, the Kaniere Forks Power Station (Figure 8) could generate 750 kw of power by two Pelton Wheels and supplied power to pumps and winches on Jones Flat, as well as for electric lighting in Ross (Mort 1978: 23). However, by October 1910 the company was in liquidation. The Ross Goldfields Reconstructed Ltd was formed and proposed to sell the power scheme, having determined that it was both inefficient and costly (Grey River Argus (GRA) 16 May 1911). There is no information to suggest that any power was produced at the Kaniere Forks Power Station after Ross Goldfields Ltd went into liquidation and it is likely that the water race was again empty during this period (Watson Dec 2008: 7). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 12 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

13 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Electricity Generation, continued Ross Goldfields Reconstructed Ltd did not end up selling the scheme and by early 1913 repairs to the scheme had been carried out, the water race was again flowing, the power scheme was running and the company was back at work in its mine. At the same time they were proposing to sell electricity to the Hokitika Borough Council (GRA 2 Jan 1913, 22 Jan 1913). However, by 30 January 1913 part of the water race broke away, causing the electricity supply to cease and the company s mine to become flooded (GRA 31 Jan 1913). In 1916 Woolston Tanneries, a Christchurch based firm with two gold mines in the Hokitika area at Woodstock and Back Creek, purchased the Kaniere Power Scheme and set up a subsidiary company called Kaniere Power Ltd. In spite of plans to sell power to other users, Woolston Tanneries elected to sell Kaniere Power Ltd to Kaniere Electric Ltd for 20,000 in May 1920 (Mort 1978: 23-24). Kaniere Electric Ltd successfully raised finance to form the Rimu Gold Dredging Company Ltd, which was incorporated in July 1920 (Mort 1978:24) (Figure 7). The race and power scheme are believed to have been in continuous use since the time this company commenced producing power (Watson Dec 2008:8). Kaniere Electric Ltd supplied power to both the Rimu Dredge (which commenced work on 12 September 1921), to Wileys Flax Mill on the Kaniere-Longford Road and to Hokitika township. HEPS Expansion and the End of Gold Mining The running of the Rimu Dredge caused such huge power fluctuation that in 1931 another power station was built at nearby McKays Creek (TrustPower 2009). A concrete weir was constructed across the Kaniere River below Johnsons Flume and the intake for the McKays Power Station positioned on its south bank (Figure 11). From there the water was transported down an open 3.3km race (No. 2 Race), 300m of fluming and a 500m tunnel to the power station (Mort 1978: 38). In 1947 the New Zealand Electricity Department (NZED) constructed a transmission line from Arahura substation to the Westland Hospital, which Kaniere Electric Ltd was already supplying, to enable the NZED to purchase any surplus power. The Rimu Gold Dredging Company s venture proved one of the most successful in New Zealand. However, diminishing gold returns saw the Rimu Dredge cease operations in April 1953, although Kaniere Electric Ltd continued to produce power at its two power stations. In 1959, however, the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks Hydroelectric Power Scheme was sold to the Westland Electric Power Board to supply electricity to Hokitika Borough and the wider Westland County (Mort 1978: 24). The power board owned the scheme until it was taken over by TrustPower Ltd in April 1999, following the deregulation of the electricity industry in New Zealand. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 13 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

14 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED HEPS Expansion and the End of Gold Mining, continued In 1973 a major setback occurred when the Johnsons flume on the Kaniere Water Race collapsed. However, this and many of the other timber flumes on the race were replaced with treated timber during the remainder of the 1970s (TrustPower 2009a). Then two fires at the Kaniere Power Station, one in 1979 and another in 1981, caused extensive damage resulting in a total rebuild. Fortunately, the turbines and generators were able to be restored (TrustPower 2009). TrustPower Ltd still operates the Kaniere Forks and McKays Creek schemes today, generating approximately 420 kw, enough to supply more than 100 homes in Westland (TrustPower 2009). Figure Topographic Plan of the Kaniere and Mahinapua SD showing the route of the Kanieri Lake Water Race [sic]. (DOC Archives) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 14 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

15 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Figure 6. Wards Road race man s hut (DOC West Coast Conservancy Photo Collection) Figure 7. The first Rimu Dredge (Auckland Weekly News 4 March 1926 DOC West Coast Conservancy Photo Collection) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 15 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

16 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Figure 8. The original Kaniere Power Station and intake pipes (DOC West Coast Conservancy Photo Collection) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 16 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

17 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Figure 9. Gauge House which regulates the water flowing in the Race and other buildings at the Lake Kaniere intake (from Mort 1978) Figure 10. The gauge house at Lake Kaniere (left of photo) (from Mort 1978) Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 17 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

18 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Figure 11. McKays Weir on the Kaniere River, showing the spillway in the foreground, and sluice gates and intake at the back Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 18 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

19 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND Recorded Sites There are a number of archaeological sites recorded in the NZAA site record file for the area east of Hokitika to Lake Kaniere (Figure 12). The sites recorded around Kaniere relate primarily to 19 th century gold mining and industry. Only three sites are recorded within the vicinity of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS area J33/67 Kaniere Water Race, and J33/63 and J33/64 Gold Workings (see Appendix 2 for NZAA site record forms). The Kaniere Water Race is a 9km long large capacity water race from Lake Kaniere to Kennedy Creek. Originally built in 1875 to supply water for gold mining claims at Kaniere Forks, it was later modified, expanded and strengthened between 1907 and 1909 to supply water to produce hydroelectricity. Today the Kaniere Water Race is used by the Kaniere Forks HEPS to supply water from Lake Kaniere to the Kaniere power station. Recorded as an archaeological site (J33/67), it is the most significant heritage item identified within the Kaniere Forks HEPS. Generally most of the Kaniere Water Race is open channelled in the ground, but where it is unstable the sides have been timbered and boxed. Timber fluming allows the water race to cross gullies and tunnels were constructed to cross steep hillsides. Associated with the water race is the race man s track. Located on the berm of the race, it would have been constructed at the same time to provide access for a race man to repair and maintain the water race. The Kaniere Forks HEPS itself dates from its inception in 1906 when Ross Goldfields Ltd proposed to use the Lake Kaniere water race to generate electricity to run equipment to dewater the deep alluvial mine shafts at Jones Flat in Ross. The archaeological remains of gold workings are recorded on either side of Blue Bottle Creek, up to 1km upstream from Lake Kaniere Road. Recorded archaeological site J33/63 is located on the eastern side of Blue Bottle Creek, extending 750m upstream from the McKays HEPS pipeline (Figure 13 - Area A) and consists of an almost continuous sluice face up to 10m high with associated tail races, stacked stone walls and bridges and tailing fans. Archaeological site J33/64 is located on two low terraces on the western side of Blue Bottle Creek: (1) extending some 300m above the pipeline and back from the creek some 100m (Figure 13 - Area B); and (2) commencing some 500m upstream from the pipeline and extending some 250m further at a width of 100m (Figure 13 - Area C). It consists of sluice faces, tail races, stacked tailings and tailing fans. Most of the area designated Area B has been destroyed and levelled by modern gold mining. About 5ha of Area A (which is approximately 15ha in total) was destroyed during However, a significant proportion of Area A and Area C is still intact (Hooker 1993). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 19 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

20 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED Recorded Sites, continued Another site of historical interest, but which is outside the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS, is the Pioneer Water Race J33/15, which is recorded north of and above Kennedy Creek. It was constructed in 1866 to provide motive power to the Kaniere Goldfields with an intake on Kennedy Creek. There is also the Kaniere Tram line J33/16 that extended from McKays Creek to Hokitika town. There are no recorded sites of Maori origin within or in the vicinity of the McKays Creek and Kaniere Forks HEPS. Figure 12. Recorded archaeological sites (NZAA ArchSite) J33/63 & 64 J33/67 Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 20 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

21 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND, CONTINUED C B A Figure 13. Archaeological site J33/64 Areas A-C in Hooker 1993 Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 21 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

22 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION Kaniere Forks HEPS On 13 August and 5 November 2009 the authors inspected the Kaniere Forks Power Station area and the length of the Kaniere Water Race. The Kaniere Forks HEPS itself dates from its inception in 1906 when Ross Goldfields Ltd proposed to use the Lake Kaniere Water Race to generate electricity to run equipment to dewater the deep alluvial mine shafts at Jones Flat in Ross. The water race was modified and two iron pipes were installed, dropping the final 80m to the power station from the water race to provide sufficient volume and pressure to drive the two 350 kw turbines (TrustPower 2009). The Kaniere Forks Power Station was opened on 8 September 1909 and generated 750 kw of power by two Pelton Wheels, supplying power to pumps and winches on Jones Flat, as well as for electric lighting in Ross (Figure 8). Two fires at the Kaniere Power Station, one in 1979 and another in 1981, caused extensive damage resulting in a total rebuild of the power station building (Figure 14). The turbines and generators in the Kaniere Power Station are the oldest commercially operating equipment of this kind in New Zealand (TrustPower 2009) (Figure 15). At The Landing on Lake Kaniere is the intake channel for the Kaniere Water Race. The banks of the intake entrance on the lake and the channel are walled with stone boulders. A section of this stone walling had collapsed on the eastern side of the intake entrance (Figure 16). There are two control gates on the intake that regulate the water flow into the race and into the Kaniere River (Figure 17). In 1916 Woolston Tanneries constructed a crate concrete weir at the lake outlet to the Kaniere River, to raise the lake level by half a metre to ensure a reliable water supply to the Kaniere Power Station (TrustPower 2009). This weir is still in place. There is also a line of metal posts visible immediately downstream of the concrete weir that may relate to an earlier weir (Figure 18). Archival photos show a Gauge House situated beside the intake which regulated the supply of water into the race (Figure 9). This building is no longer present. On the island between the Kaniere River and the intake channel there is a small terrace feature that may have been the site of a previous building (Figure 19). While this is likely to have been the location of the gauge house, we know from DOC files that there was an information centre located here in more recent times. Originally there were three cottages for power station operators at Kaniere (TrustPower 2009a). Today there is a wooden cottage standing near the power station that may be one of the operators accommodation cottages (Figure 20). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 22 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

23 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 14. Kaniere Power Station today Figure 15. Original turbine and generator in the Kaniere Power Station Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 23 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

24 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 16. Water race intake on Lake Kaniere with stone walling on the banks on either side of the intake entrance. Note a section of this stone wall has collapsed on the eastern side of the intake Figure 17. The control gates to the Kaniere River (centre) and the Kaniere Water Race (right) at the Lake Kaniere intake Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 24 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

25 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure concrete weir on Lake Kaniere with the possible remains of an earlier weir immediately downstream (left) Figure 19. Possible house site between Kaniere River mouth and water race intake on Lake Kaniere Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 25 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

26 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 20. Cottage beside the Kaniere Power Station Kaniere Water Race The Kaniere Forks HEPS uses the Kaniere Water Race to supply water from Lake Kaniere to the Kaniere Power Station. This large capacity water race is 9km long and was originally built in 1875 to supply water for gold mining claims at Kaniere Forks. The purchase of the Lake Kaniere Water Race by the Ross Goldfields Ltd in 1906 saw significant works undertaken on the race to get it back into use and increase the quantity of water supplied. This involved widening and strengthening the first 5km of the race from Lake Kaniere, the construction of a 4km branch race to Kaniere Forks, 4.5km of tunnelling and 185m of fluming (TrustPower 2009a). The longest tunnel, constructed in 1907 through Tunnel Hill, is 2km long. The Kaniere Water Race is located on public conservation land administered by DOC. The race man s track is a popular public walkway known as the Kaniere Water Race Walkway. Watson (Dec 2008) undertook a historic baseline inspection of the walkway in 2008 for DOC. As part of her reporting she provided a tabled baseline description of the walkway track and its features in two sections Lake Kaniere to Wards Road, and Wards Road to Kennedy Creek. With the permission of Watson we have reproduced these two tables in this report (Appendix 1) and added information to the Description field as it relates to the water race specifically. The recorded marks along the water race and track were taken using a hand-held GPS during this survey. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 26 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

27 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Kaniere Water Race, continued Lake Kaniere to Wards Road: This section of the water race (Figure 21) starts at The Landing at the northern end of Lake Kaniere beside Lake Kaniere Road. Initially it follows the Kaniere River, and then it deviates east of the river around the hillside for approximately 2.7km to Wards Road. The race and track pass through an area of young native re-growth where the original forest was logged in the 1920s. A power line constructed in 1979 to Lake Kaniere also follows the route of the water race for a period. This section of the water race between Lake Kaniere and Wards Road appears to be good condition overall and has suffered relatively little over time. The race varies from a cut channel only, to having sections with timber retaining and boxing to hold the sides of the race (Figure 23). In two places stone boulders were used to retain the sides of the race, in one instance where a side stream flowed into the race (at Mark 132, see Appendix 1), and at the entrance to the tunnel before Wards Road. Stone retaining of the race walls is probably more frequent than is visible due to modern boxing and vegetation cover concealing these areas. Six sections of timber fluming allow the water race to cross gullies five over natural side streams (Figure 24) and one around the hillside and there are three tunnels that were constructed to cross steep hillsides. It also includes four sills, one weir and one modern control structure. Figure 21. Lake Kaniere to Wards Road section Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 27 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

28 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Kaniere Water Race Survey, continued The continuous cycle of repairs to the race is evident as older repairs remain or are added to by modern boxing (Figure 25). In some places, the original, durable Rimu posts and timbers can still be seen in the race, often associated with treated pine timbers where recent repairs and maintenance continue on the race. The race man s track runs along the true left of the race (except where the race flows through a tunnel), either having been built using fill, presumably from material excavated for the race, or directly on the ground. There are some short sections of benching and half benching on the track and three cuttings. In places this track has original stone edging (Figure 26) and retaining on its outer edge (Figure 27). Modern repairs to the track are also evident as treated timber retaining and with the building of modern timber boardwalks. Watson (Dec 2008) noted what appears to be a historic gold mining water race, which has had a timber boardwalk constructed over it, on the section of the Kaniere Water Race between the lake and Wards Road. The site of Wards Road race man s hut (Figure 6) is located where the race track reaches Wards Road, on its eastern side. All that remains of this hut is the concrete platform and steps (Figure 28). Two huts were built on the Kaniere race for the race men to live in, one at Wards Road and one at Lake Kaniere. The race man s job was to maintain the race and control the flow of water through the race. Neither of these huts survives on their original sites. The remains of a water wheel also stand beside Wards Road near the site of the Wards Road hut (Figure 29). This wheel was recently transported into this area from elsewhere and is not associated with the Kaniere Water Race. Wards Road to Kennedy Creek: This section of the water race starts at Wards Road and finishes at Kennedy Creek (Figure 22). The race and associated race man s track is not in as good condition as it is on the section between Lake Kaniere and Wards Road. The terrain that this section of the race crosses is very steep in parts and there are a number of large slips and blowouts that have taken out the race and track in the past (Figure 30). As a result many modern culverts have been installed to divert water off the hillside. Other modern features include timber bridges, boardwalks, steps, rerouted track and drains. There are also four concrete sills, two modern water control structures, three tunnels and 14 sections of fluming across stream gullies (Figure 32), and various slips have occurred (Figure 31). There are a number of large side creeks that are flumed either under or over the water race. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 28 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

29 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 22. Wards Road to Kennedy Creek section Kaniere Water Race Survey, continued As with the Lake Kaniere to Wards Road section of the water race, this section starts with the water race and track running beside each other, except where the race enters a tunnel, or where the original track has been damaged by a slip and rerouted. The race varies from a cut channel only, to having sections with timber retaining and boxing to hold the sides of the race. The continuous cycle of repairs to the race is also evident on this section of race as older repairs remain or are added to by modern boxing. Again, original, durable Rimu posts and timbers can still be seen in the race, often associated with treated pine timbers where recent repairs and maintenance continue on the race. The most significant factor on this section is that the water race used by TrustPower leaves the original Kaniere Water Race and is sent through a series of three long tunnels around tunnel hill (Mark 135 Appendix 1). After this point this secondary race is seldom seen, although never far away. However, the original disused water race is still visible as the walking track and original race man s track continues along beside this now dry race (Figure 33). This original dry race certainly pre-dates the TrustPower water race and is likely to be the original 1875 water race. We know from the documented history of the Kaniere Water Race that between 1907 and 1909 the Ross Goldfields Ltd company increased the size and strength of the water race and constructed tunnels, one being two miles long, to form a large proportion of the race (DOC: FS981/87: p.12). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 29 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

30 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 23. A typical section of the water race and track near the Lake Kaniere intake Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 30 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

31 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Kaniere Water Race Survey, continued The original disused race has deteriorated significantly and is in a poor condition. The sides have slumped and eroded and vegetation is growing within and on the sides of it (Figure 34). There are at least six blowouts on the original race, which have damaged the track, and modern bridges have been built over them. At one location the original race contains early boxing timbers, which must at least predate the construction of the new race from 1907 (Figure 35). Overall this original race is very narrow, only 700mm 1m wide, which may indicate the original width of the race, irrespective of the slumping of the walls over time. There are four smaller tunnels on this race, as well as a section where the race had not originally flowed through a tunnel but a tunnel was built later and the race blocked off (Mark 136 Appendix 1). This would suggest an intermediate phase of reconstruction on the original race between 1875 and the 1907 re-routing of the water race through Tunnel Hill. Other associated historic features on this section of the water race include some stone edging and stone surfacing of the race man s track, three possible borrow pits, a metal pipe, a gold mining water race and a natural stream that may have been mined, with timbers and a drilled rock. Figure 24. Fluming of water race over a side stream Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 31 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

32 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 25. An example of successive repairs to the race with earlier posts holding timber retaining and subsequent timber boxing to hold that retaining Figure 26. Stone edging along the race track and boxed section of the race near Wards Road Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 32 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

33 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 27. Old timber retaining along on the outside edge of the race track Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 33 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

34 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 28. Remains of Wards Road race man s hut Figure 29. Water wheel at Wards Road Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 34 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

35 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 30. Start of Wards Road to Kennedy Creek section. A slip has taken out the race and track in this area, and it has been rebuilt and retained Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 35 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

36 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 31. An example of slumping on the sides of the water race Figure 32. Fluming of the water race across a stream gully Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 36 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

37 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 33. Race man s track with the original disused water race on its right. The used TrustPower water race exits a tunnel immediately ahead, where the race is boxed and a modern timber bridge is built over a slip Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 37 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

38 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 34. Disused original water race with vegetation growing in it and the race man s track to its left Figure 35. Original disused water race with old boxing timbers Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 38 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

39 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 36. Secondary water race rejoins the race man s track near one of its cuttings Figure m long timber fluming of water race where it exits the tunnel near Kennedy Creek Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 39 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

40 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED McKays Creek HEPS On 13 August and 5 November 2009 the authors inspected the McKays Creek HEPS. The McKays Creek HEPS dates from the early 1930s, when in 1931 another power station was built at nearby McKays Creek (TrustPower 2009) (Figure 38). A concrete weir was constructed across the Kaniere River below Johnsons Flume (Figure 39) and the intake for the McKays Power Station positioned on its south bank (Figure 40). From there the water was transported down an open 3.3km race (No. 2 Race), 300m of fluming (Figure 41) and a 500m tunnel to the power station (Mort 1978:38). During the inspection a concrete and boulder foundation was identified beside the McKays intake on the Kaniere River (Figure 42). An early photo taken during the construction of the McKays weir and intake (1930) shows a building standing in this approximate area (Figure 11). The Armco flume constructed across Blue Bottle Creek in 1930 was dismantled in recent years and now two large pipelines transport the water supply across the Blue Bottle Creek. Figure 38. McKays Power Station built in 1931 Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 40 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

41 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 39. McKays Control Weir on the Kaniere River Figure 40. McKays intake and No. 2. Water Race Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 41 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

42 GENERAL SITE INSPECTION, CONTINUED Figure 41. Fluming of the McKays water race over Coal Creek Figure 42. Concrete and boulder building foundations at the McKays intake Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 42 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

43 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS Kaniere Forks HEPS Proposed Enhancements On August 2010 the authors inspected specific areas of the Kaniere Forks HEPS to assess the potential and actual effects on archaeological and other heritage values of the project. Appendix 3 contains drawings of these proposed enhancements in relation to the existing HEPS. At The Landing on Lake Kaniere is the intake channel for the Kaniere Water Race. The banks of the intake entrance on the lake and the channel are walled with stone boulders. Recent repairs have been made to the collapsed stone wall of the intake entrance noted in 2009 (see Figure 16). These repairs are not in keeping with the original stone work (Figure 43). Proposed enhancements to the two control gates on the intake that regulate the water flow into the race and into the Kaniere River (see Figure 17) require modification of their configuration to divert 8m³/s of water into the race, and replacement of the culvert under Kaniere Road. A 10m construction corridor is envisaged on either side of the gates and downstream channel for these enhancements. Archival photos show the gauge house situated beside the intake, which regulated the supply of water into the race (see Figure 9 and Figure 10). Two other buildings are also shown on the eastern side of the intake in the vicinity of the car park beside the intake and across Kaniere Road. One of these buildings may have been the race man s hut located at Lake Kaniere, the other at Wards Road. Neither of these buildings is still standing today. A 14m x 5m terrace (Figure 19) was identified in 2009 on the small island between the Kaniere River and the intake channel, at the approximate location of the gauge house. However, this feature is likely to relate to a previous DOC information centre located here in more recent times. Any construction works on the island associated with the proposed enhancements should be monitored by an archaeologist to identify any archaeological remains of the gauge house. During this site inspection a small 4m x 5m terrace was also identified across and above Kaniere Road in the general vicinity of the possible race man s hut shown in Figure 10. Rotten timber planking and a green wine bottle with a kick-up base were found on the terrace. This style of bottle and its method of manufacture dates to the early 20 th century. This terrace feature appears to be outside the 10m wide construction corridor on either side of the intake gates and downstream channel for the proposed enhancements. However, this area should be cordoned off during construction works to ensure it is not accidently modified. In 1916 Woolston Tanneries constructed a crate concrete weir at the lake outlet to the Kaniere River. This weir is still in place (Figure 18). Proposed enhancements require repairs to this weir. There is also a line of metal posts visible immediately downstream of the concrete weir that may relate to an earlier weir. If possible this earlier weir should be avoided during the repairs to the concrete weir and other construction works for the proposed enhancements. Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 43 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

44 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS, CONTINUED Kaniere Forks HEPS Proposed Enhancements continued Several timber beams and planks are also lying in the stream bed downstream of the concrete weir. The largest beam is 4.5m long x 0.3m wide x 0.2m thick with notches and metal brackets (Figure 44). Also, downstream of the Kaniere River intake gates are what look to be the remains of two metal sluicing buckets lying against the stream banks. These remains are not in-situ but care should be taken to avoid or move these remains out of the area of construction works. Figure 43. The mouth of the Kaniere Water Race intake channel at Lake Kaniere. Note the recent repair o the stone wall Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 44 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE

45 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS, CONTINUED Figure 44. Notched timber beam lying in the Kaniere River bed below the concrete weir Kaniere Forks HEPS Proposed Enhancements continued Lake Kaniere to Wards Road: The thick vegetation and ground cover in this area hampered survey and made it extremely difficult to identify features on the ground. However, any potential heritage features identified within the construction corridor during this survey were recorded and located using a hand-held GPS. A new field Site Inspection was then added to Watson s tabled baseline description of the Kaniere Water Race Walkway (Dec 2008) (Appendix 1) to locate these potential heritage features in relation to the Kaniere Water Race and the race man s track. Where possible features were also located by their chainage within the construction corridor (Appendix 3 - Sheets 1-4). Clough & Associates Ltd. Page 45 McKays Creek Kaniere Forks HEPS Heritage AEE