South Taranaki Mayor Ross Dunlop says a $23 million expansion to the Fonterra milk plant at Whareroa, near Hawera, is a financial boost for the district.
Mr Dunlop says he has been concerned for some time that the company has been concentrating on the South Island.
He says the upgrading of the facility will provide employment for sub-contractors and boost spending by workers coming from other areas.
The plant processes 14.5 million litres of milk per day at peak season and manufactures 14,000 tonnes of product per year.
