The Takitimu coal mine at Nightcaps has been granted resource consent for its expansion.

A joint hearing committee granted land use, water, to divert and discharge groundwater and stormwater, and to discharge contaminants to air consents after a joint hearing in Invercargill in January.

Hearing commissioner Allan Cubitt acted on behalf of Southland District Council as an independent commissioner as Council owns part of the land subject to the applications. Environment Southland was represented by Crs Diane Wilson, Marion Miller and Neil McPhail.

Council's land use resource consents were granted with 15 conditions attached and for 10 years. The Environment Southland consents were granted also with an extensive list of conditions. The discharge permit was issued with 11 conditions, the water permit issued with four conditions, the discharge permit for mine water, stormwater and coal wash issues with five conditions and the discharge permit for stormwater issued with six conditions. Environment Southland consents were also issued for a 10 year period.

All committee members visited the mine site as part of their consideration and closely considered all the issues raised, including dust management and the visual effects of the existing and proposed activities.

Applicants and submitters can appeal to the Environment Court for a period of 15 working days from the Council's decision.