22 | Waitoa Industrial Estate T T Richard Loader Waitoa protein plant state-of-the-art The Waitoa Natural Proteins plant will be Australasia’s most up to date in terms of operational and environmental efficiency. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Proudly supportingWaitoa Industrial Estate with their resource consenting needs. RESOURCE CONSENT SPECIALISTS Quali ied, reputable and approachable - happy clients and proven success. 022 444 4082 • www.feathers.co.nz Waitoa Natural Proteins Ltd’s (WNPL) soon to be completed state-of-theart protein processing plant located on the Waitoa Industrial Estate in the Waikato and the heart of New Zealand’s beef growing region, will be Australasia’s most up to date in terms of operational and environmental efficiency. When commissioned in June the automated bovine protein plant will render fresh raw product bone and soft offal received from some of the region’s export meat processing plants, producing very high-quality tallow and meal products. The plant has been designed to process up to 18 tonnes of raw product per hour. Because the plant will be processing beef only, it will provide the best return from export markets, who prefer a one-line product. While meal will be exported for animal food, high grade tallow will be exported to places like Singapore and North Carolina for use as highly sought after bio-fuel. T T to page 24 Waitoa is a small rural settlement between Morrinsville and, Te Aroha in the Matamata-Piako District — right in the heartland of beef farming and within close proximity to a number of export meat processors. “Because the supplying meat processors are handy to Waitoa, we’re able to get fresh raw product, which returns the best quality and yield of finished product. In some cases we will be able to produce meal and tallow from animals processed just down the road four-to six hours ago. “As well as supply and production, our plant location is also perfect for exporting the finished product. Waitoa is only an hour over the hill to the Port of Tauranga or ninety minutes to the Port of Auckland. “That means less distance for container trucks to travel, and reduced carbon footprint.” WNPL is a joint venture between Greenlea Premier Meats Ltd, Wilson Hellaby Meats and Glenninburg holdings Ltd, who came together specifically to develop the protein plant. Neville had worked for Greenlea Premier Meats for 25 years and was on the cusp of retirement when the opportunity to project manage the development arose, with his ap- “As well as supply and production, our plant location is also perfect for exporting the finished product. Waitoa is only an hour over the hill to the Port of Tauranga or ninety minutes to the Port of Auckland. That means less distance for container trucks to travel, and reduced carbon footprint.” petite already piqued with an earlier rendition of the project. “Greenlea were going to build a state-of-theart protein plant at its Morrinsville site,” says Neville. “Consent had been granted for that development, but because it was close to the township there were limitations on its size. Being out in the country, surrounded by beef farms and processing plants, the Waitoa location presented a better opportunity to scale up, which is why the joint venture was formed. The opportunity to project manage this was very exciting, and one that I just couldn’t refuse.” The protein plant sits on a dedicated 4-hectare site and has a build footprint of 4500sqm that includes the main building consisting of separate areas for raw material receivable, processing, and finished product. Additional buildings include the boiler room, water treatment plant and main control centre.
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