Independent panel for cement plant

摘要

Emotions are running high in North Otago as debate about a proposal to build a 200million US dollars cement plant near Oamaru gathers momentum. Proponents and opponents have been arguing about whether Holcim NZ's proposed new plant at Weston will meet legal environmental standards. Holcim NZ insists it will, while opponents, led by the 150-member Waiareka Valley Preservation Society argue the plant will be a blot on the landscape, creating an "industrial corridor.' The Otago Chamber of Commerce has weighed into the debate by suggesting an independent panel should hear the company's resource consent application instead of a joint panel of Otago regional councillors and Waitaki district councillors. The society says that the proposal incorporates four large projects wrapped into one: the 1Mt cement plant, a huge limestone quarry, an open-cast coal mine, and and a large sand pit. However, Holcim says that the plant, if it goes ahead, will create jobs and long-term economic opportunities for the local community. Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie explained that an independent panel could focus on the technical information associated with the development. Its decision would also be influenced more by the facts and less by community sentiments, Christie said. He thought it was unreasonable to burden councillors with such a major decision when they were heading into an election year. "The process is bound to become emotive. We have already seen this issue starting to polarise the Waitaki community," Christie added. The chamber would file a submission supporting the development based on the presumption that Holcim would meet Resource Management Act requirements and was successful in obtaining the appropriate consents.