- Listed
- Applied
- Comments
- Panel considering
- Decision
Project summary
Establish, operate, and remediate an open pit and underground gold mine.
Project location
Bendigo and Ardgour Stations, approximately 20 kilometres north of Cromwell, Central Otago.
Project listing application
Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project application – Ministry for the Environment website
Completeness decision
The substantive application by Matakanui Gold Limited was deemed complete on 21 November 2025. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application was lodged on 31 October 2025.
Decision on completeness and scope – Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project substantive application (PDF, 93KB)
Memorandum of completeness and scope (PDF, 1.9MB)
Completeness responses received
Response received from Otago Regional Council (PDF, 201KB)
Response received from Central Otago District Council (PDF, 405KB)
Substantive application completeness checklist - CODC resource consent (PDF, 317 KB)
Response received from Ministry for the Environment (PDF, 145KB)
Consultation with the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (PDF, 188KB)
Consultation with the Department of Conservation (DOC) for s46
- Department of Conservation advice for EPA compliance assessment - Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (PDF, 313 KB)
- Appendix 1.1- Application for Ardgour Rise concession completeness assessment (PDF, 127 KB)
- Appendix 1.2 - Application for Come-in-Time concession completeness assessment (PDF, 134 KB)
- Appendix 1.3 - Application for SH8 concession completeness assessment (PDF, 129 KB)
- Appendix 1.4 - Application for water monitoring concession completeness assessment (PDF, 127 KB)
- Appendix 1.5 - Application for willow concession completeness assessment (PDF, 122 KB)
- Appendix 2 - Applications for amending or revoking conservation covenants completeness assessment (PDF, 86 KB)
- Appendix 3 - Applications for wildlife approvals all species (PDF, 123 KB)
- Appendix 4 - Applications for complex freshwater fisheries approvals completeness assessment (PDF, 122 KB)
Competing applications decision
The substantive application by Matakanui Gold Limited was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 5 December 2025. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.
The application has now been referred to the panel convener for determination by a panel.
Decision of appointment of panel and timing of panel decisions
On 4 February 2026 the panel convener issued Minute 5, regarding the appointment of the expert consenting panel and the timeframe for panel decisions for the Bendigo–Ophir Gold project, under clause 2 of section 79 of the Act.
The Minute can be viewed on the Correspondence page for the Bendigo–Ophir Gold project.
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Correspondence
Minutes, directions and other correspondence to and from the panel convener and expert panel regarding the Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project. -
Reports and advice
Read reports, advice and further information sought in relation to the Bendigo–Ophir Gold Project. -
Conferences, workshops and hearings
Watch and learn more about conferences, workshops and hearings for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold project.