Crane driver Paul Stripeikis was ready to sign on the dotted line after a fortnight of negotiations to buy a 4.8ha block and three-bedroom house east of Herons Creek ? and less than 1km from the proposed power plant site.

When he learnt about International Power Australia's plan to build the $110 million power plant just north of the Kew sewage treatment plant, Mr Stripeikis' plans soon changed.

"I understand this is progress, but I don't want to be part of it," he said.

"I can't live with the risk."

Mr Stripeikis will continue searching for land in the Port Macquarie area.

Locals fear Mr Stripeikis' story is the tip of the iceberg and, if the power plant goes ahead, people won't want to buy in the area and land prices will plummet.

Concerned locals aired their worries during an at-times heated meeting at the Kew Visitor Information Centre on Wednesday.

They spoke of worries including health concerns, visual impact, environmental issues and difficulties getting information about the power plant.

The company behind the proposal asked the locals to look at its track record.

International Power Australia corporate affairs group manager Jim Kouts said the power plant, which had no commercial contract as yet, was still in the development phase.

He said the plant, earmarked for a site 24km south-west of Port Macquarie and 2.2km south of Herons Creek, would only run up to 10 per cent of the year.

"Peaking" power plants the company had in South Australia and other states operated only 10 per cent of the year, he said. The only exception was during bushfires and black-outs.

A "peaking" power plant runs at times of peak demand.

Mr Kouts said the plant would meet all the government's regulatory requirements.

But Bonny Hills resident Dick Bird said a power plant would ruin the area.

"I feel the thing should not be put here," he said.

"You will get approval today to run it 10 per cent (of the time) and tomorrow they will be short of electricity ... and the next thing you know it will be running at 100 per cent," he said.

Plumber William Chappelow lives on a 68ha property within 300m of the site earmarked for the plant.

He said: "How do you start three turbine engines and not throw us out of bed?"

Another meeting was held in Port Macquarie yesterday.

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Mr Kouts said the site, near Herons Creek, was the best the company had looked at because of its location to provide the right type of energy solution and support the transmission network.