A proposal to build a 163-hectare goldmine in Roxburgh has received a vote of confidence from a neighbouring orchard.

A two-day resource consent hearing begins this morning for the mine, which is being put forward by Kokiri Lime Company.

The hearing will address resource and land use consents made to the Central Otago district and Otago regional councils.

Both applications will be heard by independent commissioners in Alexandra today.

Orchard owner Gary Bennetts said he supports the proposal, as long as the effects of the mine are addressed.

"The effects will be noise and dust and polluting the water already in the ground - we have bores in the ground at the moment and we just don't want that water to get contaminated.

The gold mine would operate for 15 years and employ at least 10 people.

Cromwell resident Travis Allison says there could be a number of benefits from the gold mine.

"I think the biggest and most obvious is financial for the region, bringing a lot of work, a lot of trades and a lot of skilled labour to the area for the project."