Dargaville residents are up in arms about a huge chicken farm planned for their area.

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets to protest against a massive Tegel broiler chicken farm in Northland.

If the project – at Mititai near Dargaville – goes ahead it will be the largest broiler farm in the country, with 32 free-range sheds accommodating up to 1.3 million chickens per 'harvest'.

The resource consent for the farm stated droppings and dead birds removed from the sheds will be burned in purpose-built boilers on site – up to 40 tonnes per day. Litter will be stored in three manure bays before burning.

ANNETTE LAMBLY/STUFF Hundreds of protesters marched in Dargaville against a a chicken farm proposed by Tegel.

Residents said on Thursday the submission notification – posted in the midst of mayoral elections and a number of large, volunteer-led community events –was short on detail and gave little indication of the scale of the proposal.

READ MORE: Proposed Northland broiler farm has residents up in arms

Resident Wen Baragrey said the community was given the minimum notice to acquire, read, and respond to a massive document.

"Only a handful of the hundreds of affected people were notified," he said.

"Many people living within the affected areas on the 'smell map' were not informed at all."

A number of well-attended public meetings have been held since the notification.

ANNETTE LAMBLY/STUFF Lyn Vincent said she and her family would leave the district if the farm went ahead.

Two schools, Arapohue and Te Kopuru, are included in the smell map. Both principals have stated their respective boards of trustees are considering their options.

Te Kopuru School principal Lee Anderson said the board was concerned about the smell zone creating possible health issues for the students and staff.

"At the very least it would make working conditions very unpleasant at times. The board is seeking further information as to next steps."

ANNETTE LAMBLY/STUFF Kereama Rangitaawa and Penelope Herbert oppose the farm.

Kāpehu Marae in Sills Rd in Arapohue was also concerned.

Chairwoman Professor Margaret Mutu said the marae had declined permission for the proposal to proceed.

"Both our marae and urupā (cemetery) are on the boundary of the property Tegel intends to purchase. The closest of the 32 sheds, each housing more than 40,000 broiler chickens, is less than 350 metres from the urupā," she said.

"In addition to the smell, dust and ashes, the proposed quarrying will be carried out to within five metres of the whare nui (meeting house).

A16-metre chimney would be located within a few hundred metres of the urupā.

"Both the urupā and the marae are waahi tapu. The development as proposed by Tegel will violate the tapu of both these waahi tapu."

The marae was providing a cultural impact assessment to Tegel, as requested.

Lyn Vincent and her husband Robert have farmed near the proposed chicken farm site for 50 years. For the past 18 years they have grown a large variety of organic vegetables for the markets, and employ 37 workers.

"Our organic auditors have said we have a 99 percent chance of losing our certification in the future," Vincent said.

Aside from odour, other community concerns include catchment dust as the area relies on tank water, pollution, and the fact the site chosen is on a flood plain.

Locals feared effluent would enter the adjacent Northern Wairoa during floods.

One submitter said the burning of 40 tonnes of chicken manure and dead birds every day could release huge amounts of hazardous air pollutants.

A Tegel spokesperson said the company recognised its proposal was of "significant interest" to the local community.

"For this reason the company sought public notification of its resource consent application."

Submissions close on March 7.