Whare Kaupapa
Atawhai/Conservation House
18 Manners Street,
Box 10420
Wellington 6140
doc.govt.nz
26 September 2025
Ref OIAD-5481
Suze Keith
[FYI request #31649 email]
Tēnā koe Suze
Thank you for your request to the Department of Conservation (DOC), received on 19 July 2025 in
which you asked for:
1. I would like all correspondence, consenting materials, reports, documents, meeting minutes, file
notes, etc, you have on record regarding the proposal to develop a series of open cast
goldmines in the Bendigo Ophir - Dunstan Mountains area by Matakanui Gold / Santana
Minerals. Regardless of whether they are associated with fast track consenting or any other
process.
2. From June 27, 2025 until present day.
On 15 August 2025, we extended the timeframe for responding to 26 September 2025 due to the
substantial collation and research, with approximately 2,000 pages needing to be assessed.
Consultation with relevant third parties also needed to be conducted.
This letter is to advise you that I have made a decision on your request but additional time is needed
to finalise material. We expect to provide the information by 9 October 2025, sooner if possible.
Decision on your request
During the requested period, DOC received a range of draft and final documents from Santana
Minerals. Many are highly technical and have been withheld in full due to sensitivities linked to the
anticipated fast-track consenting application Santana is expected to lodge. DOC must balance the
public interest against the need to avoid prejudicing Santana’s ability to lodge an application.
Withheld information
Documents being withheld in full are outlined in Appendix A. In making this decision, I have
considered the public interest in disclosure under section 9(1) and determined that it does not
outweigh the reasons for withholding.
Information we wil provide
A decision has been made to release high-level summaries of selected reports under section
16(1)(e) of the OIA. These are listed in Appendix B of this letter. Additional correspondence and
documents will also be released either in full or in part, as outlined in Appendix B.
You have the right to seek a review of this decision by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the
OIA. Information about how to do so is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. If you wish to discuss this response to your request, please contact
[email address]. Nāku noa, nā
Siobhan Quayle
Director Regulatory Systems Performance
Department of Conservation
Te Papa Atawhai
Appendix A
Document description
Withholding grounds
Aquatic Ecology Assessment
9(2)(ba)(i)
250528 Aquatic Assessment Report Bendigo_FINAL.docx
9(2)(g)(i)
Mammalian Pest Survey
9(2)(ba)(i)
20250515_BOGP_Mammalian_Pest_Report_v001.pdf
9(2)(g)(i)
Terrestrial Invertebrate Survey
9(2)(ba)(i), 9(2)(g)(i)
20250519_BOGP_Terrestrial_Invertebrate_Survey_Final_v001.pdf
Socio-economic Baseline
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
BOGP_SE Baseline_v2.0_final.pdf
Economic Impacts Report
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
Economic impacts of the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project_FINAL (1).pdf
Archaeological Management Plan
9(2)(ba)(i), 9(2)(g)(i)
J011821_AMP_REV A 1.pdf
Heritage Assessment
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(ba)(i)
J011821_BOGP HA_May 2025
Heritage – Construction Camp
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(ba)(i)
J012084_Camp HA_May 2025.pdf
Recreation Assessment
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
Matakanui Bendigo-Ophir recreation assessment Final 12 June 2025.pdf
Integrated Transport Assessment
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
310206156_bogp_ita_250513_final_FTA.pdf
Construction TMP
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
Matakanui Gold Limited Construction TMP Final Draft.docx
Landscape Effects Assessment
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(j)
Landscape, Natural Character and Visual Assesment.pdf
Surface Water Effects Assessment
9(2)(b)(i ), 9(2)(ba)(i)
Surface_Water_Effects_Rpt-Z24002BOG-2 (FINAL).pdf
Appendix B
Date
Document description
Decision
27 June - 19 July Email correspondence
Partial release
2025
28 March 2025
Magazine & Emulsion Tank
Summary
J012082_Emulsion Tanks 2025 (1).pdf
17 April 2025
Ardgour Rise Realignment
Partial release
J012109_AGR_April 2025.pdf
20 April 2025
CIT Battery Access Track
Partial release
J012137_CIT Track_April 2025.pdf
30 April 2025
Groundwater Effects Assessment
Summary
Gw_Effects_Rpt-Z24002BOG-1(FINAL).pdf
30 April 2025
Groundwater Bore Take Assessment
Summary
Gw_Take_Effects_Rpt-Z24019SML-3 FINAL
12 May 2025
Groundwater Modelling Analysis
Summary
hardrock_bog_report_2025_05_12 FINAL
13 May 2025
Noise & Vibration Assessment
Summary
Rp 001 R02 20230685 Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project-
Assessment Of Noise Effects _ FINAL.pdf
15 May 2025
Exterior Lighting Report
Summary
CQ24020 BOGP Exterior Lighting Report Rev C FINAL.pdf
15 May 2025
Surface Water Effects Assessment
Summary
Surface_Water_Effects_Rpt-Z24002BOG-2 (FINAL).pdf
15 May 2025
Native Bat Survey
Summary
20250515_BOGP_Native_Bat_Survey_Final_v001.pdf
27 May 2025
Bond Introduction
Summary
Matakanui Bond Introduction-e.pdf
5 June 2025
Air Quality Assessment
Summary
Air Quality C051440001R003.pdf
5 Jun 2025
Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project Mine Closure Plan
Summary
J-NZ0454-002-R-Rev1-MCP.pdf
7 July 2025
Word document
Partial release
Report Summary – Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project.docx
8 July 2025
Visual Simulations
Partial release
Landscape Visual Simulations.pdf
29 July 2025
GIS shape files
Summary
29 July 2025
DOC Document Register
Full release
