Open Country upgrade
Open Country Dairy has been given the nod to move ahead with plans to expand its factory in the Waikato.
It will mean the company’s plant at Waharoa, in the Matamata-Piako district, will have the ability to process about 5000m3, or 5 million litres, of milk per day.
Waikato Regional Council released its decision to grant Open Country Dairy resource consent for the upgrade.
The milk processing factory operated two coal-fired boilers, a whey dryer and a whole milk powder dryer. The consent would allow it to add an additional coalfired boiler, operating up to 24 hours a day, and another milk powder dryer, operating for up to 20 years a day.
Independent Hearings Commissioner Kevin Mahon, on behalf of the council, considered the pros and cons of the upgrade proposal during a two-day public hearing, in Walton, in April.
His decision was to grant the company a new 25-year resource consent to operate the upgraded factory.
Key issues and common themes among others opposed included the effects on air quality and health of the nearby Waharoa community, increased noise levels as a result of the expansion and previous odour issues created by other companies.
Consultant Deborah Ryan said overall she considered the conditions Open Country Dairy needed to meet to operate the upgraded factory would address the concerns of submitters.
The company said the upgrade would lead on to ‘‘positive socioeconomic’’ effects. It would enable it to increase the capacity of the milk processing factory, further contributing to employment opportunities and its economic value to the district.