Auckland in for an 'eyesore'

The view of Holcim's dome tank from Geoffrey Lang's Timaru home.

Geoffrey Lang's first sighting of a 33m cement storage tank in front of his house was also the first time he heard his wife swear.

The couple were returning to their Timaru home after a holiday seven weeks ago when they spotted the newly inflated tank. It was dark, but the dome-shaped structure was unmissable, Lang said.

"My wife used the F word."

The $50 million storage tank is one of two being built by the New Zealand arm of cement supply giant Holcim. The Timaru tank's 28m Auckland twin sparked controversy because it will be built on waterfront land in downtown Auckland, and its construction is going ahead without public consultation.

The tanks received resource consent without public input because zoning of both sites allows such structures.

Lang has owned his home overlooking the Port of Timaru for 30 years. Holcim staff met affected residents last year, but that was "just lip service", he said.

"They had the consents so they could've just told us to go away."

The 67-year-old sent the Herald on Sunday a photo taken from his house, because he wanted Aucklanders to know they were in for a "bloody eyesore".

Other adverse effects included the noise of generators during the construction phase, which is expected to continue until mid-year.

Holcim spokesman Ken Cowie said port neighbours in Timaru saw a photomontage of the storage tank, including its location, in July.

The Timaru tank was also a different height and shape to that planned for Auckland, Cowie said.

During construction and operation of the storage tanks all activities are within the limits set by the district plan. Consents and permits, and ship unloading equipment was based on an enclosed pneumatic system.

The company would continue to work with Ports of Auckland and Auckland Council to ensure they complied with regulatory requirements, Cowie said.

Lang was now considering whether to sell and move, despite always thinking that "I would die here".