Buller Plateaux Continuation

Project summary

Expand coal mining activities on the Buller Plateaux through the continuation of existing mining operations and expansion into new areas. This will enable extraction of, approximately, an additional 20 million tonnes of coal over 25 years, and all activities associated with the existing and proposed mining activities, including:

• construction and use of roads, rail, and related transportation infrastructure, including the Upper Waimangaroa haul road

• water management

• treatment of historic and future acid mine drainage, including construction of infrastructure required for that process

• biodiversity and heritage enhancement, including pest and predator control activities and pest exclusion fenced areas

• management of fly rock

• rehabilitation and closure of existing mining areas and proposed mining areas.

Project location

The Stockton Plateau and Denniston Plateau (together being the Buller Plateaux) and at Ngakawau, together with associated areas for off-site monitoring locations, transport and laydown corridors, and biodiversity enhancement.

The project description and project location were updated on 26 June 2026 under the Fast-track Approvals (Buller Plateaux Continuation and Other Projects) Order 2026. 

Project listing application

Buller Plateaux Continuation application – Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport website

Completeness decision

Bathurst lodged a substantive application for the project on 24 August 2026. The Fast-track team has returned the substantive application, which did not comply with all the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

Record of decision on completeness and scope (PDF, 101 KB)

Memorandum on completeness and scope (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Completeness responses received

Response received from Buller District Council (PDF, 188 KB)

Substantive application completeness checklist - Buller District Council (PDF, 414 KB)

Response received from West Coast Regional Council (PDF, 228 KB)

Substantive application completeness checklist - West Coast Regional Council (PDF, 439 KB)

Response received from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (PDF, 372 KB)

Response received from Land Information New Zealand (PDF, 955KB)

Response from Department of Conservation (DOC) (PDF, 377 KB)

DOC Appendix 1 – Concessions completeness assessment (PDF, 257 KB)

DOC Appendix 2 – Access arrangements completeness assessment (PDF, 335 KB)

DOC Appendix 3 – Wildlife approvals completeness assessment (PDF, 218 KB)

DOC Appendix 4 – Freshwater fisheries approvals completeness assessment (PDF, 93 KB)

DOC Appendix 5 – Listed project requirements completeness assessment (PDF, 151 KB)

DOC response to s46 RFI 2 (PDF, 952 KB)

DOC response to s46 RFI 2– Complex freshwater fisheries (PDF, 830 KB)

Substantive application returned to applicant on 23 September 2026.

Bathurst can choose to prepare and lodge a new Fast-track substantive application.