Orini local Nick Picknell said the Waikato District Council's resource consent hearing for a large scale egg laying farm close to where he lives as "bureaucracy at its worst".

The Waikato District Council has defended claims it railroaded a resource consent hearing for a controversial egg laying farm at Orini.

Hearings for the proposed farm were scheduled for two days starting on December 17 but ended in a day, prompting claims that the council bowed to pressure from Mainland Poultry to wrap up early.

If the hearing had spilled into a second day, it would have coincided with a protest held outside the council's main building in Ngaruawahia, attended by about 45 people.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF Waikato District Council communications and marketing manager Jacob Quinn and Waikato District Council consents manager Ana Maria d’Aubert accept a petition signed by 30,000 people opposed to a proposed egg laying farm near Orini that would house 400,000 hens.

The protesters delivered a 30,000 signature petition to council staff, calling on the farm to be stopped.

Mainland Poultry wants to build a farm at 64 Old Road, Orini that would house 400,000 laying hens in a tiered aviary system in nine sheds.

Direct Animal Action spokesperson Deirdre Sims said the complex nature of the case warranted an extra day of hearing.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF About 45 people gathered outside the Waikato District Council building in Ngaruawahia to protest a proposed egg laying farm near Orini that would house 400,000 hens.

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"I spoke to Orini locals who were part of that hearing yesterday and they said they were upset, they were angry, they felt it was rushed and unfair. I think the council could have handled it much more fairly."

Orini local Nick Picknell​ attended Monday's hearing and described it as "bureaucracy at its worst".

"It was rushed through. There was no consideration given for the people in the area."

Picknell said evidence was presented which described how bird excrement pathogens from the farm would mix in with the Orini Valley fog and end up on people's roofs and find its way into their water supply.

"The majority of the people in the valley collect rainwater and water off their roofs to drink, so they are essentially contaminating these people's water for profit with no regard."

Sims said Mainland Poultry was pressuring the council so the farm would proceed.

"It's appalling when a Council bows to the pressure of a multi-national to the detriment of local amenity, residents and not to mention animal welfare."

Mainland Poultry were throwing everything they had at it the hearing to get it approved.

"They have got millions of dollars and are trying to steamroll it through.

"I think Mainland have got a fight on their hands. The locals are pretty dedicated and they are considering an appeal if it is approved."

Patumahoe-based activist Peta Verry​ said the site for the proposed farm was on a 10-year flood plain, meaning that it risked a significant flood at least once every decade.

"In the last few years this has happened three times so what that means is that those hens will be at risk."

The area was also a valley which fogged up, which could mean the smell from the farm could linger, she said.

Waikato District Council consents manager Ana Maria d'Aubert said she was satisfied with the hearings process.

It was not uncommon for a scheduled two-day hearing to be held in one day and it was standard practice to put aside two days for hearings for logistical purposes.

"Sometimes a second day is scheduled in case it requires more time. However, the Resource Management Act now requires all evidence is pre-circulated to the parties involved for reading ahead of a hearing, and this allows for hearing proceedings to run reasonably quickly."

Council's staff recommended to the hearing commissioners that the resource consent be granted.

A decision on the consent will be announced in February next year.