The project extends mining on the Denniston and Stockton Plateaux for a further 25 years. Economically, it would provide ongoing employment for over 390 direct jobs and approximately 50 supporting jobs, with the workforce overwhelmingly local — 96% living within the district and 84% in Westport and surrounding settlements. 

Wages contributed approximately $40 million to the West Coast economy in FY25, while more than 125 local businesses received around $75 million in mining-related annual expenditure, sustaining trades, suppliers, schools and community organisations.

All water, including Crown legacy acid mine drainage (AMD) from previous mining operations, is treated to meet strict environmental guidelines before being released into the environment. Mine planning for the Buller Plateaux Continuation Project has involved extensive testing of materials to identify potential acid forming rock where point source controls can be deployed. 

This strategy is an effective way to manage and therefore reduce AMD at its source rather than relying soley on downstream water treatment systems. Active and passive water treatment systems are proposed throughout mining. A period of treatment and monitoring water discharge will remain in place post mining in order to ensure there are no long term legacy issues.

Ecological and biodiversity field surveys have mapped more than 10,000 hectares of the plateaux, to identify native flora and fauna species and habitats. This information has been used to inform the mine plan and as such the proposed mine disturbance area has been designed to minimise disturbance wherever possible on the high value habitat. 

Where avoidance and mitigation of ecology effects cannot be completed, the project is proposing a comprehensive residual effects package for up to 50 years. Mine rehabilitation and closure is also incorporated into mine planning and design, allowing for progressive rehabilitation to be undertaken in order to return the disturbed area to a safe, stable and self-sustaining land scape as soon as practical. At Stockton Mine, over 500 ha of rehabilitation has already been successfully completed.

Noise, vibration, air quality, traffic and visual effects have been assessed to ensure minimal impacts to the local community, residents and recreational users of the plateaux. Residents are not expected to be affected by day to day operations of the mine. The There are no changes proposed to the Ngākawau rail loadout facility meaning residents will not experience any change to the existing amenity. Construction traffic will utilise Denniston Road over a period of 18 months to two years. Traffic will be managed through a Traffic Management Plan and physical road upgrades.

Visual and recreation effects are greatest on the plateaux during active mining, and their effects will progressively reduce as rehabilitation progresses. Mining will inhibit public vehicle access to Mount Rochfort and the through to the Mackley Track. A managed access protocol will be developed in order to minimise this effect. A Recreation User Group is proposed as a forum to liaise with relevant stakeholders to ensure recreational access to the plateaux is impacted as least as possible due to mining activities.

The local area is a popular destination for domestic and overseas visitors. Many people visit historical mining areas such as Denniston and Millerton to see and experience the areas rich mining history. The mine has been designed to avoid the many established heritage areas. Mining relics and artefacts found within the mining area will be recorded and where it is safe to do so recovered and temporarily stored. We will work with land owners and local heritage groups regarding the recording, recovery and future storage of these artefacts and relics.