Recreation
The lake has been developed by the Ministry of Works into a major recreational resource for the area with a large number of trees and a holiday park on the lakeside. Ruataniwha is also one of New Zealand's main rowing venues.
This was not planned as part of the hydroelectric project but instead came about as facilities were constructed as a public service on the instructions of Max Smith, the locally based Project Engineer of the Upper Waitaki Power Project. The rowing course was surveyed, landscaping undertaken and anchors put down for lane markers before the lake was filled. He reached agreement with the Rowing Association that it would fund the building of the regatta control building at an estimated cost of NZ$75,000. When pressure to complete the building before the official opening of the lake raised the cost to approximately NZ$130,000 he used project funds to temporarily bridge the gap until the Rowing Association made full payment. Senior officials in the headquarters of the Ministry of Works alleged this was a misuse of funds. Despite overwhelming support from the local community he took early retirement rather than face charges under the State Services Act. At the time Smith was voicing disagreement with the government’s proposals to reduce the Ministry of Works' experienced construction workforce and to disestablish Twizel, all of which may have influenced the official displeasure. The principal access road to the lake was named Max Smith Drive by the local community in his honour while the South Island Rowing Association made him its first life member.
The lake’s facilities can accommodate 600 rowing boats and 2000 competitors. The rowing course has eight lanes. The regatta control building contains a first aid room, drug testing area, administration rooms, storage rooms and on the upper floor, facilities for judges and the timekeepers, as well as a commentary room. The lake typically hosts an average of 5 major rowing events a year. The New Zealand national rowing championships are held there every second year, alternating with the national secondary school rowing championships. (During these the Maadi Cup is contested.) The lake is also used for swimming, yachting, canoeing and windsurfing.
Read more about this topic: Lake Ruataniwha
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