Media Release
Central Otago Council access agreement clears key hurdle for Bendigo-Ophir project
Santana Minerals has finalised land access arrangements with the Central Otago District Council, settling a statutory requirement that has been under discussion for almost 12 months and clearing a key hurdle for its Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project as it advances through the Government’s fast-track approvals process.
The agreement secures access to council-owned road assets affected by the proposed project, meeting requirements under the Crown Minerals Act and bringing to a close a lengthy negotiation process that formed part of the project’s development pathway.
The arrangements cover access along Thomsons Gorge Road and the Shepherds Creek paper road, including a 20-metre corridor on either side. They set out how access would be managed if the project proceeds, including provisions to maintain public access and amenity, and how council assets would be compensated where impacted.
Any future road stopping would still require approval under the Public Works Act or Local Government Act. If any roads are stopped, replacement routes would be built to ensure continued public access.
Alongside access certainty, the agreement puts in place a long-term community benefits framework. If the project is consented and developed, Santana will make an indexed NZ$1.25 million per annum payment to the council, starting six months after commercial gold production begins. The funding will be ring-fenced, administered by the council, and reported on separately, providing transparency over how it is applied to the community and district priorities.
The agreement does not approve mining and does not indicate any view on whether consent will be granted. The access arrangements and community funding would only apply if the project is ultimately approved and developed.
Santana chief executive Damian Spring said the agreement marked a material step forward for the project.
“This raises the credibility, and durability, of any eventual decision.”
“This agreement resolves a long-standing statutory access requirement, provides durable clarity around roading and access arrangements, and establishes a transparent framework for long-term community benefit,” he said.
“It allows the project to progress in an orderly and disciplined way through the fast-track process, without pre-empting the outcome of that decision.”
Council representatives have emphasised that the agreement ensures the district receives a clear and accountable return from the use of council assets if the project proceeds, while maintaining appropriate safeguards, transparency and public oversight.
For Santana, the agreement locks in foundational access and community arrangements, reinforcing momentum for the Bendigo-Ophir project as it moves toward a final regulatory decision.
ENDS
Enquiries:
Polly Clague – Senior Advisor, Communications & Government Relations
021 191 0088 | pclague@santanaminerals.com
About Santana Minerals
Santana Minerals (ASX/NZX: SMI) is developing the Bendigo–Ophir project in Central Otago, the largest gold discovery in New Zealand in over 40 years. Expected to produce 120,000 ounces annually at peak production, for 14 years, the project will generate NZ$5.80 billion in GDP, contribute more than NZ$1.8 billion in royalties and taxes, and create over 860 jobs. Santana is committed to delivering environmentally responsible and economically sustainable gold mining.