The Environmental Defence Society says it will keep challenging plans for intensive dairy farming in the MacKenzie Basin.
Three companies applying to house thousands of cows indoors in the Upper Waitaki region have withdrawn their applications to discharge effluent due to costs imposed by the Environment Ministry.
Environmental Defence Society chair Gary Taylor says the companies already have land use consents and are continuing with applications to take irrigation water.
Mr Taylor says he is concerned they may resume their plans for intensive farming in the future and there is no cause for celebration until the companies surrender their land use consents and abandon the proposal.
