The concerns of some objectors to the proposal by Open Country Dairy to discharge waste from its Heads Rd factory into the Whanganui River have been allayed. But other objectors remain opposed to any discharge at all.
The company's application to discharge up to 900 cubic metres of "cow water" -
condensate of whey - a day into the river attracted 21 submissions.
All but two were in opposition to the proposal.
A pre-hearing meeting organised by Horizons Regional Council gave submitters the opportunity to learn more about the proposal and its potential environmental impacts.
Cow water is what is boiled off when milk powder is made. It is clear, about 20C in temperature, and contains elements such as nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus.
Initially the company intended that the wastewater would run across the mudflats at low tide, and directly into the river at high tide. However, at the pre-hearing meeting Open Country Dairy said a reverse osmosis facility would now form part of the proposal and that alleviated the concerns of some submitters.
Environmental consultant Dave Moule, working on Horizons' behalf, said the meeting was constructive.
Open Country has now been asked to provide more information about the reverse osmosis facility and how it changes the nature of the application.
When Horizons Regional Council has that information it will be provided to submitters.
Open Country Dairy also tabled a set of conditions that could be imposed by Horizons as part of any consent.
Horizons is having these reviewed by an independent marine scientist, to see if they address the concerns raised in submissions.
The draft conditions were discussed at length, Mr Moule said. Though the submitters couldn't reach an overall resolution, they agreed to a further independent review of all new information.
A revised set of draft conditions would be circulated to all parties within the next three weeks for their comments.
A decision would be made about whether to hold another pre-hearing meeting or go straight to a full hearing.
