Hawkeswood Mining Ltd has applied to establish and operate an alluvial gold mining operation at Teviot Rd, Millers Flat, Roxburgh.
Consent applications have been lodged with the Otago Regional Council and Central Otago District Council.
Managing director Andrew Hawkeswood said the company had been waiting for this stage of the process for more than two years.
"We feel as if we’ve had to sit on our hands. We’ve had to lay off about 10 people as a result of the wait, as there was not enough work to do.
"Hopefully, the consent process will be relatively smooth, and we’re able to get things going again, and get more people employed again."
The company had initially hoped the consent would be discretionary, but acknowledged the scale of the operation meant it had to be publicly notified, he said.
"We’ve gone through everything with a fine-tooth comb.
"We’re ready to start work as soon as it gets approved."
Should the proposal go ahead, it could bring about $60 million to $70m into the local economy over the first few years of its operation, he said.
"We think we will have good support from the community for the proposal.
"We’ve been in the community for more than 20 years."
This is the second time the proposal has gone out for public feedback.
In August last year the proposal received more than 600 submissions, the majority of which were in favour; but the application has been renotified due to changes to the scope of the consent in terms of an increase in the volume of earthworks, and the duration of the consent from five years to 10 years.
Resident Ken Franklin said he would submit on the proposal again.
"I think the scale of the proposed project is well out of proportion to the benefits it will bring to the community, particularly when you consider the impacts on the environment."
The total project area is 68ha and the maximum volume of earthworks is estimated to be about 12 million cu m.
The depth of excavation varies across the site from 13m to 18m below ground level.
Application documents said the proposal did not affect the open natural character of the hills and ranges, and the effects of the proposal were on the already modified valley landscape, in particular characteristics of openness, naturalness and rural amenity.
"It is considered that there are no persons that will be adversely affected by the proposed development.
"Any potential for adverse effects can be appropriately avoided, remedied, or mitigated, and will be less than minor in the context of the receiving environment."
The application documents said the proposal would employ about 20 people during its operations, while all land would be rehabilitated upon completion of works.
Submissions on the proposal close on February 19.
