Feathers ruffled over timing of chicken farm submissions

Those opposed to a broiler chicken farm in Arapohue want more time to make submissions on Tegel Food's resource consent application. Photo / Supplied

Northlanders opposed to a proposed broiler chicken farm will request an extension to make submissions on Tegel Foods' plan for the business venture.

At a public meeting in Arapohue on Thursday evening, residents decided to ask the Kaipara District Council and the Northland Regional Council for more time to lodge written submissions.

The deadline is March 7.

Two more public meetings are organised for today and Wednesday next week to gauge public feedback on Tegel's proposal.

Resource consents for the farm, which could stock up to 1.3 million birds and employ 32 people, were lodged with both councils late last year and was publicly notified last week. One of the meeting organisers on Thursday, Rosie Donovan, said residents along Mititai Rd and Whakahara Rd received letters from both councils on February 5 advising them of Tegel's resource consent and the deadline for public submissions.

"There's so little time to understand the so many documents that contain technical information Tegel has supplied the councils and that's why we'll be asking for an extension to file submissions."

A Kaipara District Council spokesman said by law, the territorial authority did not have the authority to extend the timeframe for public submissions.

He said any request for an extension would have to be approved by Tegel Foods.

About 60 people attended Thursday's meeting at the Arapohue Hall.

Ms Donovan said people were sceptical about job prospects for locals and concerned about contamination of waterways, smell and possible devaluation of properties.

The second public meeting will be held at 10am todayat the Kapehu Marae on Mititai Rd and the third at 7.30pm, February 21, at Dargaville High School.

But not everyone is against Tegel's proposal.

A number of people, including Julianne Robertson, have posted comments on the Dargaville Grapevine and Info Sharing Page about the potential benefits of a broiler chicken farm to the local economy.

Ms Robertson suggested property owners close to the proposed chicken farm visit a similar farm outside Northland to see how it was operated before making their submissions based on facts rather than assumption.

Karey Pulman said locals needed jobs and urged people to make submissions on Tegel's proposal.

"I acknowledge there are concerns for the environment and this is why people are encouraged to put in submissions on the consents but these submissions need to be fact based, not emotionally based to be seriously considered by NRC.

"This will be on the main road and a lot of money is involved so public scrutiny will be very high and Tegel won't have any wriggle room on the consent conditions," she said.

Natisha Sneddon urged Tegel to "just go ahead with it and do it".