NZ; Piggery’s go-ahead terms unsatisfactory
Plans to build New Zealand’s biggest piggery have been given the green light but the conditions have disappointed those involved.
Owners Graham Sexton and Colin Kay were unhappy with the 15-year consent period offered by the hearing panel as they wanted a consent period of at least 35 years.
The shorter-than-expected time period would make it hard to get a bank loan, Sexton said. “You can’t just put that thing up and running tomorrow. It would take a few years, so I can’t believe it.”
Kay, the director of New Zealand Pork said he was thankful to both councils for granting the consent but some of the “impractical” conditions could force them to appeal to the Environment Court. Kay added that the research gone into the piggery would make it one of the most technologically advanced in New Zealand.
The piggery, which would start off with breeding 3200 sows before increasing to 4800 sows, would be the largest in New Zealand. At capacity it could contain up to 40,000 pigs. About 50 jobs would be created and it would offer training facilities for piggery workers.
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