"A classic Nimby case," is how Holcim (NZ) counsel Mark Christensen yesterday described to the Environment Court an appeal against a proposal for a $300 million cement plant, coal mine, sand and limestone quarries in the Waiareka Valley near Oamaru.
The reasons put forward by the Waiareka Preservation Society, which opposes the Holcim plant being built in the valley, but now accepts the quarries and mine, were without merit.
"What remains are some straws being clutched at," Mr Christensen said.
His comments were made during the opening of the court hearing in Oamaru yesterday of three appeals against the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Council's decision early last year to grant 46 resource consents for the project.
The hearing is before Judge Gordon Whiting, commissioner Charles Manning and deputy commissioner Dr Bruce Gollop in the Oamaru District Court.
Mr Christensen said the society said the cement plant should go somewhere else than "their" valley - the Nimby (Not In My Back Yard) approach.
Five of the witnesses to be called by the society were members of the society.
The other two witnesses were independent of the society and did not have any property interests in the Waiareka Valley area either.
Two of the society members, Bruce Albiston and Rodney Jones, were appearing as expert witnesses and owned property in the area.
Neither could be seen as presenting impartial expert opinion, Mr Christensen said.
"Their evidence is unreliable and should be disregarded," Mr Christensen said.
Since the applications for consents were lodged in April, 2007, a range of issues had been raised and addressed.
After appeals were lodged, further discussions resulted in resolution of almost all issues and agreement by parties on a comprehensive set of conditions, including those which Holcim had raised in its appeal.
The society's appeal related only to the cement plant site and the "vast majority" of issues raised had since been resolved, Mr Christensen said.
The expert evidence was unequivocal and all adverse effects could be appropriately avoided and mitigated.
An extensive range of conditions addressed all effects that might arise, he said.
The proposed cement plant would use the most up-to-date processes and technology as a way to minimise environmental effects.
The effects of the proposal had been carefully considered.
They had been competently and comprehensively responded to and conditions were so exhaustive that the court could be comfortable the issues had been dealt with, Mr Christensen said.
Holcim has indicated it plans to call 15 witnesses to present its case.
Holcim cement plant
A $300 million cement plant, coal mine, limestone and sand quarries in the Waiareka Valley, 2.5km from Weston.
The Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils granted 46 resource consents for the plant in February, 2008.
Consents appealed to the Environment Court by Holcim, the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society and Andrew Renalson, with interested parties Waitaha Waitaki Trust Board and Waitaha Maata Waka.
Being heard by Judge Gordon Whiting, commissioner Charles Manning and deputy commissioner Dr Bruce Gollop.
Yesterday: Holcim's opening legal submissions, opening submissions by appellants' counsel, Holcim managing director Jeremy Smith, Hearing runs from yesterday totomorrow, then from March 30 until completed.
