Geothermal power back on tap for Rotorua? | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Geothermal power back on tap for Rotorua?
By REBECCA DEVINE in Rotorua
Two decades after Rotorua nearly lost its iconic Pohutu Geyser authorities are considering opening up the geothermal field for increased use.
The possibility of extending public use of the now-stable field in Rotorua is said to be the result of a successful world-leading recovery plan which 18 years ago saw the closure of hundreds of bores in the city.
Environment Bay of Plenty has decided to review the plan which determines who can use the underground energy. It's taking a conservative approach at this stage but is open to submissions, including those wanting regulations relaxed.
It's good news as far as local geologist Ashley Cody is concerned.
Mr Cody - who was involved in the 1986 bore closures and in developing the recovery plan - believes as long as the resource is managed properly, more people could be using geothermal than at the time of the infamous "bore wars".
He believes as much of 50 per cent of the central city - from Puarenga Stream across the flat to Old Taupo Rd - could use it.
It's a far cry from 1986 when more than 300 bores were closed after the Pohutu Geyser stopped spouting water. The Government was shocked into action and within a month had developed a recovery plan for Rotorua's geothermal activity.
Bores within 1.5km of the geyser were forced to shut. Many more were closed when royalties were put in place - so expensive that many took the option of closing the bores instead of paying the horrendous fee.
Despite overwhelming public opposition, both then and now, those involved said there was no doubt it was the right thing to do. The plan has become a benchmark for other areas facing the same problem, like Rotorua's sister city Beppu, Japan.
Environment Bay of Plenty's environmental policy manager John Wale said the review of the Rotorua geothermal management plan was still in the early stages but could result in changes.
Mr Cody said the bore closures were the best thing that could have happened to the city, and there had been a drastic improvement in the health of the geothermal system since.
But he didn't believe the recovery had reached the same stage as before the exploitation occurred.
After being involved with Rotorua's geothermal system for more than 20 years, Mr Cody said there was definitely room for extra use, although it should not be allowed to get to the stage where it was being run down again.
He said many people could get heat off one bore, instead of everyone having their own bores.
Environment Bay of Plenty took over management of the recovery plan in the 1990s with a focus on making sure water taken from the field was reinjected back into underground geothermal aquifers to maintain pressures.
Back in 1985 only 5 per cent was re-injected - now about 90 per cent of water goes back in.
These days a computer simulator model can be used to test how different bores would impact on geysers and other thermal activity.
Two decades after Rotorua nearly lost its iconic Pohutu Geyser authorities are considering opening up the geothermal field for increased use.
The possibility of extending public use of the now-stable field in Rotorua is said to be the result of a successful world-leading recovery plan which 18 years ago saw the closure of hundreds of bores in the city.
Environment Bay of Plenty has decided to review the plan which determines who can use the underground energy. It's taking a conservative approach at this stage but is open to submissions, including those wanting regulations relaxed.
It's good news as far as local geologist Ashley Cody is concerned.
Mr Cody - who was involved in the 1986 bore closures and in developing the recovery plan - believes as long as the resource is managed properly, more people could be using geothermal than at the time of the infamous "bore wars".
He believes as much of 50 per cent of the central city - from Puarenga Stream across the flat to Old Taupo Rd - could use it.
It's a far cry from 1986 when more than 300 bores were closed after the Pohutu Geyser stopped spouting water. The Government was shocked into action and within a month had developed a recovery plan for Rotorua's geothermal activity.
Bores within 1.5km of the geyser were forced to shut. Many more were closed when royalties were put in place - so expensive that many took the option of closing the bores instead of paying the horrendous fee.
Despite overwhelming public opposition, both then and now, those involved said there was no doubt it was the right thing to do. The plan has become a benchmark for other areas facing the same problem, like Rotorua's sister city Beppu, Japan.
Environment Bay of Plenty's environmental policy manager John Wale said the review of the Rotorua geothermal management plan was still in the early stages but could result in changes.
Mr Cody said the bore closures were the best thing that could have happened to the city, and there had been a drastic improvement in the health of the geothermal system since.
But he didn't believe the recovery had reached the same stage as before the exploitation occurred.
After being involved with Rotorua's geothermal system for more than 20 years, Mr Cody said there was definitely room for extra use, although it should not be allowed to get to the stage where it was being run down again.
He said many people could get heat off one bore, instead of everyone having their own bores.
Environment Bay of Plenty took over management of the recovery plan in the 1990s with a focus on making sure water taken from the field was reinjected back into underground geothermal aquifers to maintain pressures.
Back in 1985 only 5 per cent was re-injected - now about 90 per cent of water goes back in.
These days a computer simulator model can be used to test how different bores would impact on geysers and other thermal activity.
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