Cloudy Bay on appeal against Moa Brewery consent

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Press Release, 5 September 2013

Cloudy Bay statement on its appeal against Moa Brewery’s resource consent

Cloudy Bay is one of three parties appealing the recent decision to approve Moa Brewery’s resource consent application for a planned 12-fold expansion in the heart of the Wairau Valley.

“Cloudy Bay is locally managed and we have made this decision to appeal because we do not believe it is appropriate for an industrial-scale brewery to be established in a unique rural environment that is internationally renowned for its wine-growing,” says Ian Morden, Cloudy Bay Estate Director.

Wine exports in New Zealand are worth $1.21 billion and almost 80 per cent of that comes from Marlborough. Buyers of wines associate the product with the environment it comes from – a world famous wine-growing region.

Other industrial-scale operations of the size Moa Brewery aspires to in New Zealand are in industrial zones. The logical approach would be for it to set up its brewing facilities at a site that is already well-suited to industrial activity, such as the Riverlands Industrial Estate, while maintaining its boutique operation on Jacksons Road as a destination site.

A key advantage of an industrial park is the ability to continue to scale operations up if future growth exceeds expectations.

“The allegation that Cloudy Bay is funding other appellants is a complete fabrication.

Frankly, it is rather disappointing that Moa Brewery would make such unfounded allegations when the real issues at stake about the future of the unique Marlborough environment are so much more important,” says Mr Morden.

Independent expert advice presented at the hearing raised a number of concerns that Cloudy Bay does not believe the conditions imposed can adequately mitigate. The Environment Court is the appropriate forum in which to address these important issues of national concern.

ENDS

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