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The Macraes Phase Four Project Fast-Track Application

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Approval Process

Macraes Phase Four Fast-Track Application

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  • The Approval Process

Why Fast-track

The Fast-track Approvals Act is a different pathway to approval, involving the same level of assessment.

An independent Expert Panel reviews the application in full. A wide range of government agencies, iwi, the project’s immediate neighbours, and other people and groups are invited to comment. The application, all of the comments, and the process itself are publicly available on the Environmental Protection Authority’s Fast-track website. The scrutiny applied is rigorous.

Macraes Phase Four Application
Visit Fast-track Website

Who decides

The Expert Panel is the independent decision-maker for MP4. 

The Panel reaches its decision on the merits of the application, after considering submissions and expert input, including any experts engaged by the Panel to help inform the process.

Process Timeline

Once MP4 is lodged, the Fast-track process follows several stages.

1.  Application lodged

2.  Completeness check by the Environmental Protection Authority 

3.  Overlapping consents check

4.  Convenor appoints Expert Panel and decides the timeframe for their decision

5.  Government agencies, iwi and invited parties provide comments and applicant responds

6.  Expert Panel review, including any further information requests

7.  Draft decision including any conditions issued

8.  Final decision

Fast-track process following lodgement of MP4

Council and Agency Roles

Local and regional councils, including Waitaki District Council, Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council, take part in the process but do not make the decision.

The Department of Conservation, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, the Ministry for the Environment and other relevant government agencies provide comments, reports and expert input to the Expert Panel.

These councils and agencies can comment on the application, and on any proposed conditions, before the final decision is made. They typically play an active role in the process.

Consultation Intentions

MP4 is a complex project. Several complex issues could require detailed assessment and post-lodgement processing timeframes are tight.

OceanaGold has sought to work with the councils and government agencies ahead of lodgement to understand their issues and concerns, and to work towards solutions to these.

The overall objective of consultation (both pre- and post-lodgement) is to narrow the issues in contention.