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A major drainage project is underway in a picturesque part of South Canterbury.
For the first time in 20 years, the hydro canal which runs between Lake Pukaki, Lake Ohau and the associated power station is being "de-watered" for maintenance.
It's usually a torrent of rushing water but at the moment there's barely a trickle and men are walking on the bottom of the canal where man hasn't been for 20 years.
Meridian Energy's Neil Barclay says they have taken the opportunity to drain the canal and repair the control gate which controls water flow out of Lake Pukaki and into the canal.
It's a tough job plucking decades worth of debris from the grills, not to mention cleaning the bottom and repairing the gigantic gate which is buffeted by thousands of tonnes of water every day.
"It's very rare. The damage we're repairing here is 30 years old or has occurred over 30 years," says Barclay.
While there's no risk to power supply, there is to the fish. Hundreds have been rescued from the receding waters and given a new home in Lake Ruataniwha.
Fish and Game officer Graham Hughes says there's always a lot of fish in the canal and most of it still there, with only about 25% removed.
Meridian says the repairs are nearly done and as of Tuesday the serene trickle in the canal will be a thing of the past.
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