CODC keeps council CEO's Bendigo mine approval powers secret

The Central Otago District Council has refused to supply any details, under Official Informational (LGOIMA) legislation, of the delegated powers given to council CEO Peter Kelly (main image above) over the controversial proposed $4.4 billion Bendigo open pit gold mine.

As reported by Crux, Mr Kelly received, signed and returned a letter from mining company Santana Minerals on October 16, 2025 giving the company access to council controlled roads needed for access to the mine site.

The access agreement was the final obstacle to Santana filing their Fast Track application with the New Zealand Government. It was also the key bargaining point under the control of the CODC.

In a formal response to a December 9, 2025 LGOIMA request from Crux, the CODC said:

“There have been four confidential reports in 2025 (28 May, 10 July, 24 September, and 17 December) where Council have resolved to give the CEO delegated authority in the negotiations with Santana Minerals.”

Crux also asked:

“Did your CEO have specific delegated authority to sign this letter (attached) sent to Santana by CODC (signed) on October 16, 2025 - the same day it was received by CODC. Are there any records of this issue being discussed and agreed with elected members? “

CODC: "Yes the CEO has delegated authority to sign such a letter and this authority was contained in the agreed resolutions to the 24 September 2025 confidential Council report. The CEO has kept the Council informed on the Crown Minerals Act and Fast Track Application Act as it pertains to Santana Minerals Limited.”

However the CODC then refused to supply an further details, as requested by Crux, saying that the information was confidential and commercially sensitive.

The response means that CODC ratepayers and the local community have no knowledge of how or why Mr Kelly has been given such broad powers. There is also no visibility of any deal with Santana that might have been made in return for the mine access.

The Local Government Act requires the CODC to act in the interests of ratepayers. How the council has done that remains unknown to the media and the community - if indeed a deal has been done, verbally or formally. It is also generally understood that there is significant pressure from the Government for the CODC not to obstruct the Bendigo Mine project.

It’s also not clear why the CODC insisted on treating the Crux request for details of Mr Kelly’s delegated gold mine powers as an LGOIMA request a month ago - when it is likely that Mr Kelly knew then that the answer would be a refusal.

You can read the full CODC LGOIMA response here - as well as the Crux main feature article where we highlight the role of Mr Kelly in effectively giving the green light to the $4.4 billion project then denying the existence of the agreement letter and subsequently denying that it had legal force.