The country's biggest gold miner has been given consent to expand its operations.
Photo: RNZ
Oceana Gold sought to create a new 63 hectare pit, called Coronation North, and a 280 million tonne waste stack at the Macraes Mine in East Otago.
A joint resource consent approval has been issued by the Otago Regional Council, Waitaki District Council and Dunedin City Council for the expansion to go ahead.
It will add three years to the life of the 25-year-old mine, which has pumped billions of dollars into Otago's economy so far.