Further information gathered for plant proposal

Holcim team members working on the proposal for a new cement plant at Weston, near Oamaru, are gathering further information that has been requested by Swiss parent company Holcim Ltd.

At its January meeting the Holcim Ltd Executive Committee reviewed the proposal put forward by Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd to build the new plant, which would replace the company’s plant at Westport, now more than 50 years old. The Committee asked Holcim New Zealand to provide further detail on some of the project aspects.

“Once this information has been brought together it will be reviewed by the Executive Committee,” said Holcim Capital Projects Manager, Ken Cowie.

The final decision on whether the proposed plant will go ahead will be made by the Holcim Ltd Board.

In a newsletter being distributed this week to approximately 8000 Oamaru residents and other interested parties, Holcim says that because the plant decision is made by its parent company rather than by Holcim New Zealand it does not determine the timeframe. In the newsletter the company indicates that it was hopeful of a decision by mid-year, however since going to print it has had some indications that its proposal may not go forward to the Holcim Ltd Board until the second half of the year.

“We are still expecting 2011 to be the year we get a decision”, Ken Cowie said.

The newsletter also details support given by the company to the return of rock art taken from the Waitaki and South Canterbury areas 94 years ago.