NTOLF - NO TO ORINI LAYER FARM!

Concerned neighbours are organising to fight a proposed indoor egg-laying farm in north Waikato. Mainland Poultry want to build a mega egg laying farm with 400,000 laying hens that will be housed in wire aviaries. The sheds that will house 50,000 hens each will be very close to many of the community homes and the locals are worried about odour, traffic, dust, noise and amenities.

Neighbours say the company has intentionally underestimated the farm's impact and that they "were low-balling the projections to persuade council against hearing neighbours' concerns". "We need to have our voice in the process, that doesn't happen unless the district council says this is more than minor. We are prepared to follow the examples of other community groups and advocates who have fought against similar proposals." Fellow neighbour Martin Van Tiel said he was concerned about the risk of salmonella, listeria and bird-flu. "It's a very quiet little valley. From everything from the traffic, to the visual impact, it'll look like an industrial site."

We are fighting to save the community from this potentially disastrous outcome. Once it is built there will be no way out.

The application for the mega farm will be heard in a hearing on the 17th and 18th of December where Commissioners will hear from the Applicants and those who oppose including us. We have engaged lawyers and are looking for other experts to help us win against this poultry giant.