Mainlanders square off against Contact

Residents of the Otago town of Beaumont are preparing to fight proposals for a dam on the Clutha River.

Contact Energy is seeking public input on four options to build a hydro-electric dam on the river at Luggate, Queensberry, Beaumont or Tuapeka.

The group Friends of Beaumont opposed a similar dam in the 1990s and former secretary Trevor Reeves is reviving the group. He is contacting former members and is recruiting others who are concerned about the dam.

"It's just the same old fight all over again. We won last time but they take a few steps back and have another go, so it will probably be a lot more effort to stop them this time."

Mr Reeves says a dam would flood farmland, bury Maori artefacts and create greenhouse gases.

There is a high chance a dam could impact on Millers Flat orchardist Darryl Peirce. He says his land would be completely lost if the river was dammed at either Beaumont or Tuapeka. He says it would have a financial impact but he is equally worried about his family';s lifestyle being lost.

"I have an eight acre motorcross track below my house and we also hunt deer here, so how do you put a value on that?"

Mr Peirce says he was involved in the strenuous public battle against a dam in the 1990s but he is not sure what action he will take this time. However, he is adamant his property is not for sale.

- NEWSTALK ZB