The country's dairy processing capacity continues to grow, with news yesterday ZOAGN Ltd has applied for consent to build a milk powder factory in the Waikato, and Oceania Dairy appearing on track to get funding to build a plant near Glenavy.
Oceania chief executive Paul Park said yesterday he could not provide details on progress to secure the $100 million in funding, other than "it was proceeding positively".
The company has resource consent to build a plant in time for the 2011-12 season at Cooneys Rd, next to State Highway 1, north of Glenavy, with milk sourced within a 50km radius from North Otago and South Canterbury farms.
Mr Park said he was talking directly to farmers but would not release details.
Meanwhile, ZOAGN has announced plans to build a $100 million milk powder plant at Arapuni, in South Waikato, employing 55 permanent staff.
ZOAGN also proposes being in production for the 2011-12 season, processing 37,000 tonnes of milk powder a year from 220 million litres of milk.
If both companies succeed in being operative by August next year, it will take to eight the number of processor exporters operating in the country, with at least one other, Mataura Valley, still proposing to build a factory near Gore.
The six companies operating at present are: Fonterra, Tatua Dairy Co-operation, Westland Milk, Open Country Dairy, Synlait and New Zealand Dairies.
