Firm’s financial contribution under discussion
The Gore District Council and company Mataura Valley Milk are locked in negotiations about how much the company will pay as its financial contribution to the district.
The plant is now operational and the first milk tankers rolled into the $240 million plant at McNab, north of Gore, last month.
Mataura Valley Milk general manager Bernard May said the negotiations were ‘‘part of both parties working together to reach an outcome’’. ‘‘We are in discussions with the council about that.’’
Council chief executive Steve Parry said the council and company had been discussing the financial contribution issue since May. ‘‘We’ve always known it was there but we parked it for revision while we got the other projects over the line in time for the plant to begin operations.’’
The council had formed a Mataura Valley Milk development committee, which had met and considered the issue.
Its recommendations had been put to the company, which then sought a meeting with the committee, Parry said. ‘‘I understand there is still some difference of opinion. I anticipate there will be a decision within four weeks.’’ The committee was influenced by what had been paid previously for large commercial projects in the Gore district, what was in the council’s district plan, and the market for financial contributions at a national level for other commercial projects.
The committee would formalise its decision and put it to the company in coming weeks.
The council had focused on water and waste-water issues associated with the plant, which the company had paid for, before negotiating the contribution payment, he said.
‘‘We focussed on the big issues to get the plant operational and we got those completed on time and I’m pretty proud of that.’’ Star’s under-10 captain, Ethan Tamariki, has been watching his diet this week to ensure he does not exceed the weight limit for the New Zealand Junior Rugby Festival in Queenstown this weekend.
Five of the team – all forwards – had to be replaced because they were over the 43kg limit.
The five have stayed with the team to support players and coaches in training and at the festival.
The Star Rugby Club’s junior committee member Paul Esplin said Ethan weighed 42.3kg and should be good to go for the first game against Auckland Marist on Saturday.