»It’s absolutely fantastic,» he said yesterday about dairy giant Fonterra’s announcement it was starting community consultation with the view of lodging resource consents for two new high-efficiency milk powder driers at its Studholme factory.
Fonterra emphasised this was the first stage in a process and still needed a final decision on whether to build them.
But its managing director of global operations, Robert Spurway, said the Studholme plant was the ideal option to provide much needed processing capacity for the steady growth of milk production coming from South Canterbury.
If the project goes ahead, construction on the first drier could begin within the next five years, creating 125 new positions. The second drier in the following five years could add another 125 positions.
At present, the plant employs 57 fulltime staff and six contractors.
Mr Rowley said that was probably more than the number of unemployed in the district, which meant the jobs would attract people to Waimate to live.
»It will make the community more vibrant and viable.»
In addition, it would add jobs to keep young people living in the district.
»Having a development like that gives another option for young people, particularly with a company like Fonterra that has careers paths into all sorts of management positions,» he said.
The council was told at a meeting with Fonterra on Tuesday about the expansion proposal.
A public meeting would be held at the Waimate Community Centre on November 3, starting at 6pm.
Fonterra managing director global operations Robert Spurway said the expansion would play an important role in the co-operative’s growth strategy.
At this stage the company could not estimate the cost of the proposal.
That would depend on a large number of factors, including any conditions on resource consents, and would be part of the process leading to a final decision.
The new driers would increase milk consumption at Studholme by about nine million litres a year, and would be additional to the existing drier, Mr Spurway said.
»With the steady increase in milk production, a strong schedule of capital investment in processing and manufacturing will be key to delivering on our V3 strategy – driving value, volume and velocity.
»Should it go ahead, the investment at Studholme will also bring much needed processing capacity to the South Island as well as options to make the products that bring the greatest returns to our shareholders.»
Mitigating environmental impacts was a high priority.
Plans for the building included a range of wastewater treatment options, with particular care given to the nearby Wainono lagoon.
Fonterra was looking to minimise the use of coal, investigating options for energy efficient boilers capable of burning biomass.