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Fast-track panel to take its time on controversial Central Otago gold mine application

Thursday, 5 February 2026

Santana Minerals has described its proposed mine at Bendigo as New Zealand’s most significant gold discovery in 40 years.
Santana Minerals has described its proposed mine at Bendigo as New Zealand’s most significant gold discovery in 40 years.

A panel of seven experts has been appointed to consider whether a contentious gold mine near Cromwell is given the go-ahead.

Australian company Santana Minerals wants to dig four open-pit mines in the hills at Bendigo, with its application going through the government’s Fast-track process, which aims to speed up consenting of major projects.

While Santana claims widespread support for the mine, the proposal has been strongly opposed by many local residents, as well as Hollywood star Sir Sam Neill, and artist Sir Grahame Sydney.

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In a decision issued on Wednesday, Fast-track panel convenor Jane Borthwick said the panel would need 140 working days to assess what was an extremely complex application, and decide if it should be approved.

Santana’s proposal has drawn strong concern and criticism over its environmental effects.
Santana’s proposal has drawn strong concern and criticism over its environmental effects.

This means a decision on the mine, which has split the Central Otago community, will not be made until October 29.

In making this decision, Borthwick rejected Santana’s belief the process could be concluded within 60 days, which was in itself double Santana’s original suggestion of just 30 days.

Other parties, such as the Otago Regional Council and the Department of Conservation, had asked for a 140-day time frame.

“The applicant has not persuaded me that 60 working days is an appropriate time frame,” Borthwick said. “The time frame is insufficient given the scale, nature, and complexity of the approvals sought.”

Part of Borthwick’s justification for a longer time frame was that Santana had not supplied its entire application and relevant reports to other interested parties for response, before it filed its application to the Environmental Protection Agency, which is overseeing the Fast-track process. This had caused inevitable delays.

Borthwick said the most comparable Fast-track application was OceanaGold’s proposal to extend its Waihī gold mine, which was approved in December, after a 112-day consideration.

Santana Minerals wants to dig four open pit mines across the hills between Cromwell and Tarras, as well as conduct underground mining.
Santana Minerals wants to dig four open pit mines across the hills between Cromwell and Tarras, as well as conduct underground mining.

However, Borthwick said Santana’s application was more complex, and would likely raise novel legal issues.

She also pointed to potential problems for Santana in its relations with Otago hapū of Ngāi Tahu.

“Kā Rūnaka say their concerns are significant and immutable.”

The extended time frame is likely to be a blow to Santana, which had hoped to begin construction of its mine by mid-2026, and produce its first gold a year later.

Now, even if it gains consent later this year, gold production could be delayed until late 2027 or even 2028, given construction of the mine, the 1km processing plant, and a 2km tailings facility for toxic sludge, has been estimated to take about a year.

Borthwick has appointed seven experts to consider Santana’s application, including three with mining sector experience, saying the panel needed broad expertise for such a complex application:

Sustainable Tarras, the main community group opposing Santana’s mine, said it was relieved Borthwick had decided a longer time frame was necessary, adding that Santana had failed in its efforts “to pressure the agencies and the convenor into a superficial and fast review”.

A spokesperson said the panel of seven experts, the most for any Fast-track project to date, was testimony to the complexity, impacts, and risks of the project.

“We are cautiously optimistic that this panel will be able to identify the gaps in the data, the overstated economic case, and the underestimation of environmental impacts.

“We also remain hopeful that the panel will invite a wide range of affected parties, including ourselves. We have therefore taken steps to engage experts in areas where we believe we can add evidence to what we understand the agencies will be submitting.”

Santana Minerals chief executive, Damian Spring, said while a shorter time frame would have been preferable, he welcomed the certainty of a clear timetable.