Planning for Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd's proposed new cement plant near Weston is continuing to progress in the lead-up to the Environment Court appeal hearing.
The company's work was primarily focused on refining the plant layout, technical design, and establishing specifications for key plant and equipment supply, capital projects manager Ken Cowie said.
It was also continuing to collect meteorological data and was revisiting evidence being prepared by expert witnesses for the appeal hearing.
Mediation conferences are being held and a date has not yet been set.
"Further to this, we are also progressing the associated project to build a new ship for cement distribution to replace one of our two ships, the MV Westport, so the project team is very busy," Mr Cowie said.
Ontrack has given itself resource consent approval to reopen the Waiareka to Weston railway branch line, a vital component of the $400 million cement plant.
Opponents of the plant plan to appeal the approval in the Environment Court.
That appeal will be lumped together with appeals against Holcim receiving resource consent from the Waitaki District and Otago Regional Councils to build and operate the plant.
