Senior vice-president Alison Paul said the consent was separate from the wider "MP4" resource consent application, which was put on hold earlier this year to allow more time "for ongoing constructive engagement with stakeholders, including iwi and councils".
"While the broader MP4 consent was on hold, a narrower consent application was required to ensure operations at Macraes continued.
"To help this, we sought — and have now obtained — an extension of operations from 2026 through until about 2030."
Ms Paul said the non-notified consent process was appropriate, given the minor level of additional effects associated with the continuation of current activities.
"These consents allow mining to continue at Macraes through to around 2030 and authorise the clearance of a small area of grass and tussock on land we own next to the Innes Mills Pit, and for us to continue depositing tailings into the existing Frasers Tailings Storage Facility.
"With consent now in place for the next five years, covering aspects that were previously part of our wider MP4 application, we will withdraw that application and formally close the adjourned hearing.
"We expect to lodge a revised MP4 sometime next year. This timing allows for feedback and technical assessments on the more complex matters of MP4 to continue, with a view to reaching consensus, where we can, on what the next 10 years of mining at Macraes might look like."
Consenting has been and remains, a constant activity at the Macraes Operation, Ms Paul said.
The company had been applying for and renewing regulatory approvals for over 35 years — and started doing so before the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
"While this will be the first time we use fast-track at our Macraes Operation, our experience using fast-track in a major project has shown us that the same level of detail presently required under the RMA is equally required under fast-track.
"We remain committed to working constructively with all stakeholders throughout this process."
Forest & Bird Otago and Southland regional conservation manager Chelsea McGaw said she was surprised to hear at least part of the application was able to be agreed upon without public submissions.
"It's a bit gutting that that's happened ... the point of a consent process is to be, or to have to get consent to being, open to public permission and normal environmental scrutiny.
"When you're not given that opportunity, it means that some things might be missed."
Ms McGaw said she was not surprised, however, that
OceanaGold would be focusing on the fast-track process for the second development — as upcoming changes to the legislation would make the process more enabling.
"We would be requesting to be allowed comment, but especially with this new amendment, which has just come through for the fast-track process, it's going to be even more limited so the chances of us getting selected or anyone other than the council are increasingly unlikely.
"It just feels like — not only us and NGOs and community groups, but just about everyone — is getting cut out of these processes now, and it doesn't feel like democracy, and there's no safeguards in it for the environment."
Otago Regional Council chairwoman Hilary Calvert said it was best for her not to comment from a "council or personal perspective" on the process at this stage.
