'Overwhelming' opposition to coal

Whangarei Heads residents are overwhelmingly opposed to plans to refire Marsden B Power Station using coal, a protest group says.

Marsden Bad Action Group spokeswoman Catherine McNamara said more than 300 people attended a meeting opposing the plan this week.

She said the large turnout showed the high level of interest among Whangarei Heads residents. State-owned company Mighty River Power has applied to the Northland Regional Council and Whangarei District Council for resource consent to refire the station to run on coal.

Public submissions close on February 24 and about 100 submissions have been made to the Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council, which are jointly hearing the application.

- NZPA