The north Waikato marae hosting hearings for Fonterra's new open cast coal mine says it is strongly against the proposal.
Glencoal Energy, which is owned by Fonterra, is seeking permission to establish a mine at Mangatawhiri, to replace an existing open cast mine nearby.
More than 100 submissions were received and hearings are set for the next three weeks at Mangatangi marae.
Chairman of the marae committee, Warahi Paki, says the planned mine will be seen from the marae, the mine being less than 2kms away.
He says the committee, trustees and a local health clinic have put together a three-pronged strategy opposing the mine, which will be presented on Tuesday, 3 September.
