The piggery was given the go-ahead by the Horowhenua District and Horizons Regional Councils earlier this week. However, according to Stuff, the 15-year consent limit put on the piggery, which would contain up to 40,000 pigs, has disappointed piggery operators Colin Kay and Graham Sexton.

Mr Kay said he was thankful to both councils for granting the consent but some of the "impractical" conditions could force them to appeal to the Environment Court.

The 15-year-long consent length (the application was for 35 years) would not allow the project to be "bankable", he said.

"We would run the risk of getting turned down in 15 years."

The standard Horizons Regional Council consent length for piggery effluent discharge is 10 years.

Another condition required the operators to give one week's notice to the council and neighbours before a truck could come to the piggery.

"We've got to talk that through. We need to say [to the council] what are you trying to achieve here and then see if there's another way to achieve it."

Mr Kay, the director of New Zealand Pork, said the research gone into the piggery would make it one of the most technologically advanced in New Zealand.

Setting up the piggery, including getting the sows ready and constructing the buildings, would take about three years, he said.