A rural Canterbury community has begun its fight to stop a quarry operating close to their homes.

Fulton Hogan has told nearby residents it plans to apply for a resource consent to build and operate a 170 hectare quarry on Dawsons Road in the Selwyn District.

It's been met with frustration, with a community meeting last week drawing in a crowd of around 200 people.

Resident Narelle Chand lives around 100 metres from the proposed site.

She said she was shocked when she was told the news.

"It just blew me away I couldn't believe it. I said you've got to be joking, how come we didn't know about this?"

She said she was visited by Fulton Hogan staff, but not everyone was.

"People who were bordering the quarry were visited and offered a Barkers hamper for Christmas, I didn't accept it because I was very upset."

Chand said if it goes ahead she'll be moving out.