A hearing date has been set for a Winton landfill operator's controversial resource consent application. 

AB Lime Ltd wants to make its waste landfill at Kings Bend the "the premier landfill" for the lower South Island.

It has applied for a new 35-year resource consent, which removes the existing 100,000 tonnes per annum cap, enabling the company to more quickly fill the remaining capacity of 23.9 million cubic metres. It also formalises the ability to receive emergency waste. 

Since it opened 17 years ago, only 1 million cubic metres have been filled of the landfill, which is about 5km east of Winton. 

The application has received opposition from the local community. It was processed as a 'limited notification' application, which means only the surrounding neighbours could make submissions. 

The application was notified to 21 parties within 2km of the site, and also to tangata whenua via Te Ao Marama and Hokonui Runanga. 

Seven submissions were received, but a petition opposing the application has been signed by hundreds of people, local campaigners say. 

A formal resource consent hearing will be held at Invercargill Workingmen's Club from 17-21 May, taking into account the application, submissions, associated evidence and Environment Southland’s report.

Following a formal hearing, an independent resource management commissioner will make a decision on this application, not council staff or councillors.

An Environment Southland report on the application must be provided to the applicant and submitters at least 15 working days prior to the hearing.

Under the RMA, Environment Southland doesn’t have responsibility for noise matters or roading – these are the responsibility of the Southland District Council.