Auckland company Zodiac Holdings is rethinking its plan to build a water-bottling plant at Porotī Springs near Whangarei in favour of building near Northport.
Porotī cattle graze opposite the springs. Photo: Supplied
Zodiac had applied to Whangarei District Council for land-use consent to build a factory on its land at Porotī.
However, the council has received nearly 1000 submissions on the proposal - most of them opposed - including from local hapū.
In a letter to the council, Zodiac managing director Paul Thompson said the company had been considering those submissions along with commercial factors.
He said Zodiac did not have to bottle on-site and was looking at alternatives.
The company took its first tanker-load of water from Porotī aquifers this year, for processing in Auckland.
But it's now hinting it will build a bottling factory at Marsden Point.
It's estimated the business would create about 20 jobs.
Mr Thompson said Zodiac still envisaged most of the employment opportunities would remain in Northland, ideally in an industrial zone adjacent to Northport.