Terramark's planning team brings deep, specialist knowledge of the extractives industry, working alongside numerous gold mining clients with operations across the South Island.

Our recent work includes securing resource consent for a client seeking to extend an existing gold mining operation to a 24-hour working day in the Buller district. The application drew submissions both for and against the extended hours, with noise and light effects identified as the key issues of contention.

Adding to the complexity, the application had to be assessed against both the Operative Buller District Plan and the Proposed Te Tai o Poutini Plan, the latter introducing a new approach to noise assessment and more stringent lighting standards. Our team carried out in-house modelling to confirm the proposed operation could meet these new standards, resulting in consent being granted.

This outcome reflects the technical and planning expertise Terramark brings to complex, contested consent processes in the extractives sector.