Ohau C

Ohau C is the last of the power stations on the canal system in the McKenzie basin.

I think Ohau B and C stations were finished in the early '80s and marked the end of the Muldoon governments "Think Big" schemes.

I'm standing on Ohau C and looking at the lower part of the canal emptying into Lake Benmore. We only see a portion of Lake Benmore here, there is a whole other side beyond, through a gorge between the 2 sets of hills. I think it's a man-made lake, as are the other Lakes Aviemore and Waitaki.

Lake Benmore has a power station at the other end of the lake, you guessed it, Benmore Power Station ;-) It empties into Lake Aviemore, which has the Aviemore Power Station, then Lake Waitaki, the Waitaki Power Station, and finally what is left of the Waitaki River (after farmers has drawn off water for irrigation).

It's an amazing system of canals, lakes and rivers. We wouldn't see anything on this scale developed today. Maybe that's just as well. For all the habitats and fisheries lost, others have appeared.

It's a wonderful playground and the weather over Easter was kind.