Speaking to a crowd of staff, supporters and local election candidates, Jones recalled that he first visited the site about two years ago. He said he had not expected that 'mythology, falsehoods and misinformation' would hamper the consenting process, which he described as legitimate and necessary for the country's growth.
The proposed mine, operated by Santana Minerals, has been going through the fast-track consenting process established by the government to speed up resource approvals. Jones said the legislation had become a 'constipated bureaucratic beast', suggesting it was failing to deliver the streamlined outcomes intended.
Jones, who also holds the resources portfolio, has been a vocal supporter of mining as a driver of economic development. During his visit, he reinforced his backing for the industry, taking aim at opposition he characterised as based on misinformation.
The visit drew a small protest at the gate, though the specific concerns of the demonstrators were not detailed in Jones's remarks. The project has previously faced local opposition over environmental and landscape concerns in the Otago region.