Waimate people can learn more about plans for a new $100 million milk treatment plant in their district now Oceania Milk has opened an information centre in the town.
The centre is part of preparations by Christchurch-based Oceania Milk to apply this month to Waimate District Council and Environment Canterbury for resource consents to build the plant on State Highway 1, about 4km north of Glenavy.
The exact site would be made public once negotiations were completed.
Oceania Milk acting chief executive Paul Park said the centre on Queen St, next to the Savoy tearooms, would be open one or two days a week.
"It will give the community the opportunity to look at plans for the plant, learn about the project and discuss their concerns."
Feedback would be incorporated into the detailed design of the plant and the resource consents process, including alleviating or mitigating any concerns that might be held.
Mr Park and "technical people" would be available, he said.
Initially, the information office will be part of the consents process, but in the future it will continue to provide information about the plant, including financial details to prospective shareholders and suppliers.
It will also handle inquiries from people wanting jobs.
It will be the second milk treatment plant built in the district in the past three years - the other is the Russian-owned New Zealand Dairies' plant on SH1 at Studholme.
Oceania Milk includes former National Party leader and Reserve Bank governor Don Brash and former Meridian Energy Ltd chief executive Keith Turner among its directors.
It hoped to have the new plant operating for the 2011-12 season.
Oceania Milk was not planning to target existing Fonterra or NZ Dairies' suppliers, but was looking to future developments, which may include it owning its own dairy farms.
Major irrigation schemes planned in the area, including the 40,000ha Hunter Downs scheme in the Waimate district and another 25,000ha scheme in the Mackenzie Basin, are also encouraging the new company.