% 830 words % Dairy farming has recently expanded in the Waiwhetu region, providing % a boost to the local economy. To cope with the increased milk % production, a dairy company is proposing to set up a new factory. The % factory will be located close to the Waiwhetu River, the region’s main % waterway. To operate the new factory, the proponents want to take % water from the river and discharge wastewater from the plant back into % the waterway. - water allocation - 10,000 cubic metres - wastewater discharge - 10,000 cubic metres - 2 degrees warmer - effect on invertebrates - cumulative effects - other dairy factory - farm runoffs pollute the river according to locals - social impacts - more jobs % % There is already a dairy factory in the area producing milk products. % The factory has existing discharge permits which are not up for review % for another 10 years. At present, it uses 10,000 cubic metres of water % from the river and discharges the same amount into the waterway. The % wastewater is two degrees celsius warmer than the temperature of the % river. % % Many prominent people are welcoming the growth of dairying in the % region and believe the new factory will bring more jobs to the area. % However, others are concerned about the potential environmental % impacts of the development. Environment groups and iwi argue water % quality is already being affected by waste generated from local farms % and want to see the river cleaned up. % % Note: Waiwhetu is a fictitious region