Marsden power battle gains steam

Mighty River Power's plan to convert the mothballed Marsden B power station south of Whangarei to run on coal has attracted a record number of public submissions for a Northland development project.

About 3200 submissions had been received by the Northland Regional Council by closing time on Thursday.

Consents manager Dave Roke said more than 95 per cent of submissions were opposed to the coal-fired project for the station, built in the 1970s to run on oil but mothballed before it ever operated.

About 750 people have said they want to appear in person at the resource consent applications hearing, which is expected to be heard by independent commissioners in Whangarei over at least two weeks in June.

Mighty River Power has applied to the regional council for 11 air, land use and coastal consents required to operate the Marsden B station near Ruakaka in Bream Bay, using coal for fuel to generate electricity.

A 12th consent application, for land use, is being sought from the Whangarei District Council, and this has attracted another 1000-odd submissions.