Of the 149 infrastructure and development projects released this weekend for inclusion in New Zealand’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, 11 are mining projects.

These include OceanaGold’s Waihi North and Macraes Phase 4 projects, Santana Minerals’ Bendigo-Ophir gold project, coal miner Bathurst Resources’ Buller Plateaux continuation project, BT Mining’s Rotowaro mine continuation project, as well as three projects of mineral sands miner Taharoa Ironsands.

Commenting on Santana’s inclusion, CEO Damian Spring said that the company was pleased that the Bendigo-Ophir project had been recognised as one of national significance.

“We've long known the Bendigo discovery is unique and impactful within our sector, and this acknowledgment by central government, along with the expedited permitting process, is a major milestone not only for us but also for those focused on economic growth and improved living conditions across the country. With gold prices soaring above NZ$4 300/oz, we couldn't be more pleased,” he said.

OceanaGold president and CEO Gerard Bond said expediting permitting for its Waihi and Macraes mines would preserve the jobs of 1 000 employees in New Zealand.

“We welcome a clear and timely regulatory process in New Zealand which supports the development of projects that can provide economic benefits while respecting important environmental, cultural and social protections,” he commented in a statement.

On Sunday, the government released the 149 projects released for inclusion in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, which will seek to help rebuild the economy and fix its housing crisis, improve energy security, and address its infrastructure deficit.

“The 149 projects selected by the government have significant regional or national benefits. They will make a big difference in the regions by delivering jobs and growth and develop a pipeline of major projects to help boost the economy,” Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says.

The projects were selected through robust processes which included an open application process run by Ministry for the Environment, analysis by officials, an independent assessment and recommendations process by an independent advisory group, and final decisions by Cabinet. 

The 149 projects chosen by Cabinet to be listed in the Bill will be listed in Schedule 2 once the Bill is reported back from the Environment Committee in mid-October.

Once the Bill is passed, they will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority to have an expert panel assess the project and apply relevant conditions.

“As we’ve publicly said before, the government is also recommending to the Environment Committee that expert panels have the ability to decline approval for projects.

“The expert panels will include members with technical expertise relevant to a project, expertise in environmental matters (and where relevant, conservation), and the Treaty of Waitangi. They will function much the same way as the Covid-19 Fast Track legislation established by the previous government.

“The Fast Track Approvals Bill is a key part of the government’s plan to rebuild our economy and cut through the red and green tape that has made it more and more difficult to build the projects New Zealand needs,” says Jones.

He adds that the 11 mining projects will make a major contribution to the government’s resource objective of doubling the value of its mineral exports to $2-billion by 2035, extracting coal, gold, iron sands and mineral sands.

“They will deliver measurable benefits to regional and national GDP, highly-skilled and highly-paid jobs in the regions, and other associated benefits like the retention of regional infrastructure.”