Roaring Meg Scheme
The namesake of the two ‘Meg’ hydro stations is the small creek which runs down the hillside behind the hydro station. This creek, Roaring Meg, along with another named Gentle Annie, which is further along the highway, is reputedly named after two women who worked as barmaids in a local hotel during the gold rush.
Lower Roaring Meg
Lower Roaring Meg Hydro Station
Commissioned: 1936
Operating Head: 304m
Flow through Station: 1,300 litres per second
Annual Generation: 21.8 GWh
Construction of an intake weir across the Roaring Meg stream began in January 1935 with 20 men on the project, and by March of that year the labour force was increased to 45 men. By September 1935 the powerhouse was completed, and installation of machinery had started. Completion of the project was in time for the official opening on 19 March 1936.
An arrangement between two gold-dredging companies and the former Otago Central Electric Power Board financed the Meg Station construction. The cost of the scheme was £42,000.
The companies made their contribution by way of payment in advance for power, to be supplied to them under the terms of their contracts. Construction was difficult as all gravel and timber required on the hill had to be carted by horse and dray. All rock removed for the pipeline bench was hand drilled and blasted. Laying the pipeline was heavy work, with pipes being hauled up the hill on a tramline by trolley, powered by a tractor driven winch.
Upper Roaring Meg
Commissioned: 1947 Operating Head: 119m
Flow through Station: 1,300 litres per second Annual Generation: 6.1 GWh
Roaring Meg Dam
In October 1941, plans were discussed, and a decision was made for a further station to be constructed at the head of the valley. The proposal was to construct a storage dam at the top of the hill and direct water through a pipeline to a powerhouse above the existing Lower Meg Station intake weir, this station is known as the Upper Roaring Meg.
Despite major problems encountered during the construction of the concrete arch dam, such as staff shortages due to the war, floods, snow and other adverse conditions, the station began producing power in July 1947, to a full output of 250kW. The dam thickness at the base is 1.07m and 0.61m at the dam crest. impounds a storage capacity of 49,400m3 with a catchment area of 115km2. Excess water, not required by the Lower Roaring Meg Station, is spilled from the tank back into the Roaring Meg Stream. In 1963, the generator failed and was replaced with a 540kVA generator, which had previously been used at the Fraser Power Station. At the same time, a section of the pipeline was also renewed. In 1991 a Turgo turbine and an Induction generator were also installed at the Upper Meg Station. A new larger pipeline was also laid, to supply the two turbines.
In 2023 a major upgrade of the Roaring Meg pipeline was completed. This included the duplication of a section of the pipeline to improve operational efficiencies and overall generation.