Auld Creek Project

Project summary

This project seeks to establish and operate an underground mine at Auld Creek for a period of 6-8 years. The mining permit is proposed for 30 years.

This project comprises the following activities:

• continued mineral investigation and exploration at Auld Creek

• establishing a new surface facilities area to house the surface infrastructure to facilitate the development and operation of an underground mine located across privately owned farmland

• the establishment and operation of a temporary Run of Mine pad and associated haul road on Ngāi Tahu Forestry land

• new network utility connections, public and private road upgrades and service connections

• the construction, operation and maintenance of:

  • an access portal located on Ngāi Tahu Forestry land and associated access tunnel

  • a twin incline / decline tunnel extending from the access tunnel termination from Ngāi Tahu Forestry land to the Auld Creek orebody

  • an access portal, associated adit at the top of the orebody located on DOC land

  • Auld Creek underground mine
    

• activities over or within waterways, including the possible damming, diverting, taking and use, and construction of structures over and in waterways (including culverts)

• take and use of groundwater; discharge of contaminants (including heat) to land, air and water; and low impact surface and groundwater, ecological, meteorological, noise and vibration monitoring activities

• ancillary activities that are required to support the activities identified above.

The applicant is seeking the following approvals under the fast-track approvals process.

• Resource consents under the Resource Management Act 1991 as described in section 42(4)(a) of the Act.

• Concessions under the Conservation Act 1987 as described in section 42(4)(e) of the Act.

• Wildlife approvals under the Wildlife Act 1953 as described in section 42(4)(h) of the Act

• An approval, a dispensation, or an authorisation for a complex freshwater fisheries activity under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983 as described in section 42(4)(j) of the Act.

• An initial access arrangement under the Crown Minerals Act 1991 (CMA) as described in section 42(4)(l)

• A mining permit under the CMA as described in section 42(4)(n) of the Act.

Project location

The project area comprises multiple sites covering approximately 1,009 hectares, located about three kilometres south of Reefton, in the Buller District of the West Coast.

Project referral

The Minister for Infrastructure referred the project to the Fast-track on 29 July 2026. The application was lodged on 18 April 2026.

Notice of decisions on application for referral of the Auld Creek project (PDF, 256 KB)