The independent panel assessing the massive Bendigo-Ophir gold mine has signalled its decision will likely take longer than the standard timeframe the fast-track law allows.

Panel head Jane Borthwick put out a formal request (called a Minute) on Tuesday (December 9), asking the mine’s developer, Matakanui Gold Limited, a subsidiary of Santana Minerals, if it would

agree to an extension.

The mine is going through the government’s special fast-track consenting process for its planned open cast and underground mine in the hills above Cromwell.

Jane said the decision process needs more time because the proposal is large and complex. 

Under the recently updated fast-track rules, the expert panel must make a decision within a maximum of 90 working days unless the applicant - in this case Matakanui Gold - agrees to a longer

timeframe. 

However, Jane said her initial assessment suggests more time may be needed. 

"Based on the information before me, the scale, nature, and complexity of the application suggest that a timeframe exceeding 90 working days may be warranted," she said in the Minute. 

She suggested a timeframe of 110 to 120 working days, citing the sheer volume of the application, which includes 10 approvals sought, 22 proposed management plans and 10 sets of conditions.

A 90-day decision would be due on July 28, if the panel begins its work at the start of February as planned, while a 120-day timeframe would push the final decision out to September 8. 

Jane said she will be "seeking views on this matter before forming a concluded view". 

Matakanui Gold Limited was directed to respond to the request by Friday (December 12), and at the time of publication no response had been uploaded to the government’s fast-track projects website. 

The request to extend the timeframe received approval from local protest group Sustainable Tarras.

"Against the background of Santana executives trying to speed up the process, reduce community involvement and minimise environmental protections, plus [Regional Development Minister] Shane

Jones placing pressure on all involved to speed up and 'dig baby dig', this is welcome news," the group wrote on Facebook.  

"The decision to proceed with this mine will have intergenerational and irreversible impacts. The panel needs sufficient time and space to consider all aspects of the application, and to make a

considered decision." 

The Bendigo-Ophir mine, if approved, would be the largest new gold development in New Zealand in more than a generation. 

The company’s application, lodged at the start of November, includes nearly 9,400 pages of documents and 135 technical reports.

Santana Minerals chief executive Damian Spring has said the milestone reflected “years of serious technical work and deep environmental assessment by New Zealand experts”.  

The company anticipates the mine would produce up to 120,000 ounces of gold a year over a 14-year life, generating $5.8b in GDP and hundreds of jobs.

Read more: Sustainable Tarras: fast-track process stacked in favour of miners and Santana lodges fast-track bid for Bendigo gold project