About 30 members of the Waiareka Valley Preservation Society have confirmed the approach being taken to appeal the Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd plan to build a new cement plant near Weston to the Environment Court.
The society had its annual meeting last week and discussed the appeal against resource consents granted by the Otago Regional and Waitaki District Councils for the cement plant and three associated quarries.
The society has conceded that Holcim can work the quarries it owns for limestone, sand and coal, but remains opposed to the cement plant being constructed in the Waiareka Valley.
Instead, it is suggesting there is industrially zoned land, including some in North Otago, where the plant could be built.
Society spokesman Rodney Jones said yesterday the appeal was being funded within the society.
It had also applied to the Ministry for the Environment for funding from its environmental legal assistance fund, which provides not-for-profit groups with financial assistance to advocate for an environmental issue of public interest at resource management cases at the Environment Court.
The Fund reimburses the costs of legal counsel and expert witnesses.
The society re-elected Peter Rodwell as its president and Bruce Albiston as secretary.
