Residents in a rural residential subdivision close to a
cement plant Holcim (NZ) Ltd wants to build in the Waiareka
Valley have won a small victory in the Environment Court, in
the form of a condition for increased visual screening of the
proposed plant.
"Positive" to "disappointed" were the range of reactions
yesterday to an Environment Court decision which clears the
way for Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd to build a $400 million
cement plant in the Waiareka Valley, near Weston.
A Waiareka Valley family is funding more than 50% of the
costs faced by the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society in
its fight against a cement plant being built there.
A new cement plant would be better sited at Pukeuri than
being built in the Waiareka Valley, near Weston, planner
David Whitney told the Environment Court yesterday.
The Waiareka Valley's future lies with agricultural
development and tourism, not a new cement plant, valley
resident and owner of the historic Burnside Homestead, Bruce
Albiston, told the Environment Court yesterday.
The Environment Court will have to return to Oamaru next
month to finish hearing appeals against a proposal by Holcim
(New Zealand) Ltd to build a cement plant in the Waiareka
Valley, near Weston.
A cement plant proposed for the Waiareka Valley is too big,
and inappropriate, because of the significant potential
environmental effects, a group opposing the Holcim (New
Zealand) Ltd development said yesterday.
Residents opposed to a cement plant in the Waiareka Valley
believe it would destroy its beauty and ruin the rural
lifestyle and views they enjoy, one saying it would destroy
her family's dream.
Waitaha has spoken publicly for the first time about its deep
spiritual and cultural ties to the Waiareka Valley as it
opposes in the Environment Court a cement plant, two quarries
and a coal mine planned there.
