Doing dams better? A case study of a proposed pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow, Central Otago

Abstract Water resource managers and Geographers share common interests in meeting Sustainable Development Goal Seven (universal access to affordable energy) and addressing climate change. Hydropower plays a key role but dams have environmental, social and cultural consequences. The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) aims to ensure that dams are built safely and potential impacts are understood. This study of a proposed pumped hydro scheme at Lake Onslow in Central Otago, New Zealand, considers the effectiveness of HSAP. Results reported here show that HSAP works well but that it can also be improved by including new groups of stakeholders and by widening the perception of risks.