Cement plant seen as too big for valley

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.

The Waiareka Valley Preservation Society's legal counsel, Royden Somerville, told the Environment Court the society's attitude to the cement plant might be different if it were not so big.

The society had suggested a smaller plant, but that was not acceptable to Holcim.

He rejected a suggestion by Holcim's legal counsel MarkChristensen at the start of the hearing that the society's objection was a classic case of NIMBY - "not in my back yard".

Dr Somerville said that was "unfair and emotive".

"The appellants raise important legal and community issues concerning this proposal."

There was also the stress on the community arising from uncertainty over when or whether the plant would be built.

The original proposal for a cement plant dated from the mid-1960s. The society claimed the valley from Weston to Ngapara was a "heritage landscape" because of the number of historic sites, structures, places and areas.

The cultural and spiritual importance of the valley to Waitaha added to that.

The scale of the proposed plant would dominate the historic-heritage values of the valley, which would become a rural-industrial landscape with the plant.

It was a "large scale industrial plant" in New Zealand terms, that would dominate the character of the valley.

The size was not compatible with the lower density rural environment.

It did not require a rural environment, he said. Dr Somerville acknowledged the economic benefits for the Waitaki district could be positive, but said those did not rely on using the site for the plant.

The society did not have the resources to consider alternative sites or methods.

That onus was on the Waitaki District Council or Holcim.

Holcim's evaluation of alternative sites in resource management terms was superficial and carried out only after the appellants had raised the issue.

Holcim could continue manufacturing cement at Westport and evaluate, by involving the community and Waitaki District Council, alternative sites for a new cement plant in North Otago.

Key points

•Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd A $400 million cement plant 2.5km from Weston, coal mine, limestone and sand quarries in the Waiareka Valley.

•An additional $100 million on storage, transport, shipping facilities and new ships.

•The Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils granted 46 resource consents for the project in February, 2008.

•Consents appealed to the Environment Court by Holcim, the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society and Andrew Renalson, with interested parties Waitaha Taiwhenua O Waitaki Trust Board and Te Runanganui O Waitaha Me Mata Waka Inc and respondents the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils.

•Being heard by Judge Gordon Whiting, commissioner Charles Manning and deputy commissioner Dr Bruce Gollop.

•Hearing ran from March 9 to 11, then from March 30 until completed.