Dairyland Products has been given resource consent for its proposed milk drying plant following the Waikato Regional Council's relatively speedy 15-day green light for the project south of the town, according to the Stuff.co.nz/Waikato Times.
Up to 60 jobs could be created if the plant is built, the report said.
Dairyland already has building consent from the South Waikato District Council.
The company’s chairman Keith Jackson was reported saying the next step was to raise the capital to build the plant. Fund raising is currently targeted at Kiwi investors but may extend to overseas investors.
He would not reveal exactly how much the company needs to raise, but said the Waikato Times estimate of $80 million to $100 million is about right.
Dairyland is a private company of investors who want to keep a low profile until they have actually delivered the export project, he was quoted saying.
The report speculated that the company has an association with Graeme Hart's Carter Holt Harvey dairy farms in the district.
The Waikato Times also said the company has sealed a deal to export its milk powder production to a Chinese customer.
Jackson said Dairyland has confidence in the future of the global dairy sector and New Zealand's part in it, and intends to meet the challenge of the markets by "organising ourselves properly".
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