Santana Minerals Expedites Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project Consent Submission to August 2026

Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project Regulatory Update and Timeline Revision

Santana Minerals has provided a significant update to the regulatory timeline for its Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project following formal guidance from the Expert Panel overseeing the Fast Track Application. On 23 July 2026, the Panel issued Minute 41 recommending that the company adjust its resumption date to coincide with the completion of the Panel's statutory assessment and decision-making processes. In response, Santana has advanced its final consent conditions submission to 28 August 2026. This change takes into account the Panel's request and anticipated disruptions due to the Christmas period, aiming to safeguard the final regulatory outcome.

The company confirmed it will not seek any further pauses or extensions, demonstrating commitment to progressing steadily through the Fast Track assessment. This timeline adjustment is a strategic recalibration rather than a delay, positioning the project to enter substantive Expert Panel deliberations and supporting the goal of potential development commencement in early 2027, contingent on regulatory approvals.

Extensive Collaborative Process and Multidisciplinary Expert Involvement

Since submitting its Fast Track Application, Santana Minerals has engaged in a comprehensive collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders and regulatory bodies. The company has participated in public hearings, held 24 multidisciplinary expert conferences, responded to numerous Requests for Information, attended expert workshops, and commissioned additional technical and specialist studies. This thorough approach ensures the Expert Panel receives detailed, well-tested evidence and expert opinions across environmental, technical, cultural, and social domains.

Santana’s strategy emphasizes constructive collaboration with the Expert Panel, regulators, technical experts, iwi (indigenous Māori communities), submitters, and other stakeholders to address all issues raised during the assessment. This engagement spans environmental and technical investigations, cultural values assessments, and specialist legal and planning advisory services. By adapting to evolving Panel requests, the company aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive evidential foundation supporting a rigorous evaluation of the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.

NZ$17.7 Million Invested in Fast Track Assessment Process

Santana Minerals has revealed an investment of approximately NZ$17.7 million in Fast Track process costs since lodging its application for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project. This significant expenditure underscores the company’s dedication to the regulatory process and the technical rigor applied across all workstreams. The investment is categorized into regulatory and assessment fees, environmental and technical investigations, cultural values assessments, and legal and advisory services.

Specifically, NZ$1.9 million has been allocated to Expert Panel, Environment Protection Authority (EPA), hearing, and regulatory fees. Environmental, technical, and forensic investigations represent the largest expense at NZ$10.1 million, reflecting the extensive due diligence conducted. Cultural values assessment and stakeholder engagement have accounted for NZ$1.0 million, highlighting respect for iwi concerns and cultural heritage. Legal, planning, and specialist advisory services have consumed NZ$4.7 million, covering the complex documentation required for the Fast Track process.

Expert Panel’s Assessment Process and Final Decision Pathway

The issuance of Minute 41 by the Expert Panel demonstrates its methodical management of statutory assessment and decision-making, providing clear guidance on timing expectations. The Panel’s request for the company to align its resumption date with the submission of fully workshopped consent conditions ensures that deliberations are based on refined, robust, and practical conditions. By submitting these conditions by 28 August 2026, Santana enables the Panel to transition from information gathering to substantive decision-making.

The Fast Track process offers an expedited alternative to conventional resource consent procedures under New Zealand’s environmental regulations. The Panel’s structured approach, including formal Minutes and requests, enhances transparency on progress and timelines. Santana’s commitment to avoid further delays reflects confidence in its application’s strength and a strategic focus on maintaining momentum toward a final determination. While the August submission initiates substantive deliberations, the final decision timeline remains pending, with potential project development targeted for early 2027 upon approval.

Project Development Readiness and Early 2027 Start Target

Santana Minerals has indicated that, subject to regulatory approval, the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project aims to commence development in early 2027. This timeline suggests thorough pre-development planning and readiness to mobilize activities once the Expert Panel issues a positive determination. The alignment of the August consent conditions submission with the Panel’s substantive deliberations establishes a clear path toward decision-making and reflects confidence in the project’s technical and environmental credentials.

CEO Damian Spring stated, "the project continues to advance through the Fast-track process," signaling a positive regulatory outlook. However, the early 2027 development target remains contingent on the Panel’s independent assessment and any final conditions imposed.

Finalizing Consent Conditions and Strengthening Evidence

Focusing on finalizing fully workshopped consent conditions by 28 August 2026 highlights the Expert Panel’s emphasis on clarity, feasibility, and enforceability of project management and monitoring requirements. These conditions establish the legal framework governing environmental performance, monitoring protocols, remediation triggers, and compliance obligations throughout the project lifecycle.

Santana’s NZ$10.1 million investment in environmental, technical, and forensic investigations has directly supported the development of evidence-based consent conditions. These conditions incorporate scientific understanding of potential impacts, local environmental and cultural contexts, and regulatory best practices. The multidisciplinary expert conferences and specialist studies have enabled the company to address Panel queries and submitter concerns, progressively refining the evidence and conditions framework. This approach aims to provide the Panel with confidence that the project can operate in compliance with New Zealand’s environmental standards while supporting economic development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Iwi Consultation

Santana’s engagement with iwi and other stakeholders has been a key component of the Fast Track process, with NZ$1.0 million allocated specifically to cultural values assessment and stakeholder engagement. This investment reflects recognition of the cultural landscape in which the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project operates, where iwi hold rights under New Zealand’s Resource Management Act and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Public hearings have provided formal opportunities for iwi, submitters, and interested parties to present evidence and concerns regarding cultural, environmental, and social impacts. Continuous engagement during the 24 multidisciplinary expert conferences and workshops demonstrates an adaptive approach to emerging cultural and social considerations. Specialist work on cultural heritage, mahinga kai (traditional food gathering), and other values forms part of the evidence and consent conditions submitted to the Expert Panel.

Rigorous Regulatory and Evidence-Based Assessment Framework

The Fast Track process, characterized by extensive Requests for Information, expert workshops, and multiple technical investigations, exemplifies a rigorous regulatory framework designed to thoroughly evaluate project applications. The Expert Panel’s structured communication via formal Minutes ensures transparency and clarity on assessment expectations. Santana’s commissioning of additional investigations and participation in 24 expert conferences reflects a commitment to evidence-based decision-making and comprehensive regulatory engagement.

Providing the Expert Panel with a robust evidential basis aligns with best-practice regulatory principles. By addressing technical, environmental, and cultural issues through expert studies and stakeholder engagement, Santana has created a thorough record enabling informed Panel decisions. CEO Damian Spring’s remark that "this collaborative approach has enabled all participants to fully test the evidence" underscores confidence in the regulatory process’s rigor and comprehensiveness.

Strategic Importance within New Zealand’s Gold Mining Sector

The Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project represents a major mineral development opportunity in New Zealand’s resource sector. Gold mining contributes significantly to the economy via exports, employment, and regional growth, especially in mineral-rich areas. Located in the established Bendigo-Ophir gold district, the project benefits from geological prospectivity supported by historical mining and modern exploration.

Santana’s commitment to the Fast Track process and substantial regulatory investment reflect confidence in the project’s long-term economic viability. The Fast Track pathway offers an accelerated assessment for projects of regional or national significance, balancing regulatory certainty with environmental and social rigor. Progressing to final consent conditions and substantive deliberations indicates the application has met initial technical and viability criteria. If approved, the project could become a near-term contributor to New Zealand’s mineral output and regional economy starting early 2027.

Maintaining Regulatory Momentum and Confidence in Approval

Santana Minerals’ decision to advance its consent conditions submission and forego further delays signals management’s confidence in the project’s approval prospects. The company’s assertion that it "remains confident that Bendigo Ophir is well positioned to receive a positive outcome" reflects belief in the strength of its evidence, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory compliance.

Transitioning from information gathering to substantive Panel deliberations marks a key regulatory milestone. By submitting refined consent conditions by 28 August 2026, Santana shifts the process towards final decision-making. The company’s constructive collaboration with the Expert Panel and transparent communication about timelines demonstrate a mature approach aimed at efficient regulatory resolution. Investors should monitor updates on the Panel’s final decision timeline and further assessment progress announcements.