The company has applied for consent to establish and operate the chicken farm in a rural productive zone and also consent to discharge contaminants to land.

Organic chicken farmers Jake and Leigh-Ann Heuvel have been battling opposition to their farming operation for about a year.

After their Te Karaka farm was flooded twice in late 2005, they moved their operation to Manutuke. When neighbours complained, the Heuvels were issued an abatement notice to cease activities.

They moved their chickens to a Wharerata Road site at Muriwai and in August the company lodged a resource consent application with Gisborne District Council.

After a preliminary assessment of the application, the council asked the Heuvels to provide more information.

Source: gisborneherald.co.nz