Landowners living in the area of the proposed Klondyke storage lake have met with Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd (RDRML) staff and consultants over the past week to discuss possible impacts during its construction, and steps that will be put in place to minimise risks of a dam leak or break.

The company wrote to approximately 60 adjacent and downstream landowners in mid-March inviting them to learn more about likely construction effects of the proposed water storage facility and to understand the international best practice design process that is followed for dams, which will be undertaken by RDRML. The landowners, alongside a handful of other affected parties, were identified by engineering company MWH Global Limited as having a particular interest in the water storage facility.

RDRML unveils water storage plan

A new storage pond in the Mid Canterbury foothills that could hold 30,000,000 cubic metres of water – equivalent to 12,000 Olympic swimming pools - is being proposed by the Rangitata Diversion Race Management Ltd (RDRML).

The pioneering water management company, which has supplied water for hydro-generation, irrigation and stockwater in Ashburton District for more than 70 years, unveiled its plans at the Ashburton Water Zone Committee meeting today.